Section 4: Where does Human Trafficking Happen?
Human trafficking can happen at anywhere - your neighbor’s house, supermarkets, local restaurants, factories, etc. However, due to the hidden nature of trafficking, it is easy to overlook the crimes even in places with frequent, ongoing exploitation.
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Therefore, human trafficking can also be anywhere around us- and in our country as well. A huge misconception towards the industry is that human trafficking is only a problem happening oversea- far away and thus not our responsibility to worry or care. This is not the case at all. Not only are there millions of people exploited here in the U.S. after being forcefully brought to this country, American teens, college students, young adults, and even older age groups can also be trafficked and brought to other distant countries around the world.
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Where exactly and in what type of situations does human trafficking happen?
4.1 The Demographics
In contrast to popular belief of trafficking being the byproduct of ignorance and lack of education, trafficking also happens in developed countries. A common misconception of human trafficking paints victims as girls from third-world countries being “‘married off’ without their consent and subjected to sexual exploitation in neighbouring countries. However, even in the United States, more than 49,000 cases of human trafficking have been reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. This is especially the case for California, the state with the highest number of reported human trafficking cases- 1656- reported In 2018.
4.1.1 Demographic: Worldwide
California is the only state with 1000+ reported human trafficking case in 2016.
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The numbers are difficult to quantify and are likely underestimates because victims don’t often speak up out of fear, they are hidden so it is harder for law enforcement/ researchers to track them, and victims also often don’t self identify due to brainwashing by the traffickers.
4.1.2 Demographic: US and South California regions
Regions in South California with high number of human trafficking cases:
Regions in South California with high number of human trafficking cases:
4.2 Labor Trafficking
Again, the main difference between labor trafficking and an underpaid job is that the first pay victims below the minimum wage (if at all), while the latter does not forcefully exploit workers with long working hours, inhumane conditions, and unfavorable terms they have to bear with. Labor trafficking can happen in, but are not limited to, the following places:
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Private homes (as domestic servants)
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Construction sites
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Farms/Agricultural properties
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Restaurants, hotels (as janitors or waiters)
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Cruise ships
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Nail salons
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Tourist venues (i.e. amusement parks)
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Elder care/nursing facilities
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Factories (Sweatshops)
In sum, places where labor trafficking happens are common locations a person with a normal job could work at. This is exactly why potential cases of labor trafficking are so hard to identify. To learn more about the warning signs of labor trafficking, please refer to section 5.
4.3 Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking refers to the involuntary commercial sex act that is induced by force, farud, or coercion (see Section 1). The places listed below are incubator sites where the victims are commonly most vulnerable. Again, these are not the only places and situations that sex traficking can happen. Rather, it is especially among these places, where a large portion of visitors consider sex services typical, that victims find a hard time seeking for help.
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Truck stops
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Hotels/Motels
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Massage parlors/spas
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Pornography
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Brothels (homes/apartments)
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Bars/Clubs (Strip clubs, karaoke bars, nightclubs, lounges)
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On the streets/“tracks”