Human trafficking: the illegal movement of people, typically for the purposes of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Many people believe that human trafficking is happening abroad, but the truth is that it is happening right in your own home towns. The sad truth is that many are unaware about what human trafficking is and the signs of human trafficking. Every year nearly one million people become new victims of human trafficking. Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery that originated around the 1400’s and is constantly on the rise. Victims have no control over their circumstances and are forced into work and treated as the lowest form of individual. Human traffickers engage in human trafficking in order to earn huge profits for themselves, drug gangs and organizations, and in acts of terrorism. Today the sex trade in the United States is a 32 billion dollar industry. An American mobster or trafficker can earn up to 700,000 dollars a year by selling four individuals. Human traffickers not only traffic women, but also traffic men and children. Traffickers usually barter youth between the ages of 13-18 because of the high demand for young adults in the human trafficking industry. Children at this age are vulnerable and easier to manipulate making it easier for them to be kidnapped and taken into human trafficking.

Human trafficking is not considered a problem in many countries because there is no law against it. It is often a fear for many Americans traveling to countries where trafficking is allowed. Human trafficking is constantly growing because illegal immigrants and American citizens smuggle in thousands of immigrants into the country daily contributing to the largest growing organized crime today. In the United States, laws state that if a person has been convicted of human trafficking. Then these persons have committed felonies, and they are considered to be sexual predators. In the United States the sentencing can be 25 years to life, depending on the situation and sentencing. In addition, federal charges can even include multiple sentences of “25 years-to-life” along with the removal of property, vehicles, and monetary assets. In some countries where it is allowed the maximum penalty for foreign smuggling is one year.

Many immigrants pay to be smuggled into the United States daily with hopes of being free; however, what these immigrants are not aware of is that crossing the border does not grant a person citizenship. Often these individuals are forced into prostitution, involuntary, employment, and other practices of slavery to repay the debts that are owed for being smuggled. Many that are smuggled, even with proper forms of identification, have their passports taken away. In 2012, we went on a mission trip where we learned about the trade of human trafficking. Massage parlors that are spread across the United States are enslaving girls and allowing girls to be bought and sold. Law enforcement agents are aware of the situations, but officers are fearful to enforce laws due to the threats that are often made toward their families.

Many times people are in disbelief about human trafficking happening around them, but the truth is that it happens everywhere. No matter how strict law enforcement may be, human trafficking still occurs. There are many organizations that have been set up to take in victims of human trafficking and are working together daily to end slavery. These organizations work together to help spread awareness of the realities of human trafficking and solutions to end it. Love True is an organization that provides a rehabilitation facility to girls from ages 13-18 who have been victims of trafficking with a safe place to stay. Passion Youth Conferences have a movement called End It Movement in order to raise money to end human trafficking. This organization reaches out to the United States and other countries around the world. The Passion slogan states in it to “end it.” Since this is the largest growing organized crime today, I ask that you become aware of it and take part in an organization to help stop slavery.