Don’t be fooled, human trafficking is in America…
Filed under: Human Trafficking, Justice
Many people I have talked to find it hard to believe that human trafficking is an issue in America. However, the State department has said “It is estimated that 14,500 to 17,500 people, primarily women and children, are trafficked to the U.S. annually.”
Just last week federal prosecutors in Kansas City charged 12 people with luring illegal immigrants to the U.S. to work as what they called “modern-day slaves” in 14 states.
We cannot be fooled into thinking our country, because of our advanced culture, is immune to entering into this kind of depravity. Condoleeza Rice has said “Trafficking in persons is a modern-day form of slavery, a new type of global slave trade. Perpetrators prey on the most weak among us, primarily women and children, for profit and gain. They lure victims into involuntary servitude and sexual slavery.”
Download the TIP Report
You can get a clearer picture by downloading and reading the “Trafficking in Persons” (TIP) Report put out by the State Department in 2007. You can download that here.
America does however enforce its laws against trafficking, so its not out in the open as in countries like Thailand or Cambodia. But do not be fooled by thinking its only in the underground scenes in megatropolises. It’s happening in those places for sure, but also in suburban homes and in small towns where most people won’t think to look… so they won’t get caught.
Reports of Trafficking
I just heard from a friend that they are finding that the Panama City, FL port security is lax and they are finding traffickers know this information and are using it.
Just a few days ago I saw a news report about 3 traffickers that promised a 15 year old girl from Mexico an opportunity to work at a restaurant in Houston, TX. The girl saw hope in helping her ailing mother with being able to send money back to her. But the game changed once she reached Houston. “They forced her into prostitution once she got over here, telling her that her family would be injured or harmed if she did not comply,” said Harris County Asst. District Attorney Donna Hawkins. And when she failed to meet her nightly quota they would begin to beat her.
Here is the video of that story:
In Los Angeles, CA, according to a News America Media Report, Human Trafficking has Escalated as Economy Plunges. The Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking estimates that at least 10,000 women are being held in clandestine brothels in Los Angeles alone. They also say that the State Departments numbers are way low, and actually estimate about 50,000 people are brought into the United States each year to be modern day slaves.
Let’s not be fooled. Let’s pray and get involved. Visit exoduscry.com to find out more, or read some of these related articles below.
“There really is nothing like the death in the eyes of these children inside these brothels who are just being serially raped. But when someone shows up to intervene on their behalf, I’ve seen life return to those same eyes.” – Gary Haugen, President, International Justice Mission
I am leading team on a missions trip to Thailand in July. To support our mission trip and this ongoing effort to end human trafficking donate here https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=5042467. To find out more information check out our facebook group page here http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=187579955607.
Tags: america, Human Trafficking, Justice, sex slavery
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