Human trafficking is a serious issue in the United States. Many people mistakenly think that it is something that happens in foreign countries. The reality is that it is happening right here in Texas every day. In fact, according to Reform Austin, Texas had the most active cases in the whole country in 2018. It is a serious issue that you need to be aware of in order to protect yourself, your friends and your family.
Human trafficking occurs for two main reasons. Traffickers will either sell those they kidnap into slavery or into the sex trade. Most cases in Texas are sex-trafficking with only eight percent being for slavery. In 80% of the cases, the perpetrator is an American citizen. This is another important fact because it is a common myth that human traffickers are foreign citizens.
In 2018, there were over 3,000 victims of trafficking identified in the state. Most were female. The National Human Trafficking Hotline received about 18,000 calls between 2007 and 2018 from people in Texas.
Of the cases in 2018 for the state, there were 171 new cases filed. The active case number was 74, which topped other states in the country.
On a positive note, prosecutors in the state managed to get 45 convictions for human trafficking charges. The penalties for those convicted totaled over 440 years in prison.
Even one person lost to human trafficking is a serious problem. While numbers may not seem high, they represent a person going through abuse whose loved ones miss them and want them back. This information is for education and is not legal advice.