Human trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transporting, or procurement of a person for labor or services for the purpose of involuntary servitude, slavery, or forced commercial sex acts. There are two different types of trafficking, sex trafficking and labor trafficking.

Child Sex Trafficking:

According to the US Department of Justice, child sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age.

Child Labor Trafficking:

The US Department of Justice defines child labor trafficking as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

Both sex trafficking and labor trafficking are a form of child abuse and are more prevalent than many people realize. Trafficking often happens in Texas due to the vast number of highways, the border with Mexico, and international airports located throughout the state.

Common Misconceptions

Myth: Human traffickers target strangers.
Truth: Traffickers can be anyone; they can be romantic partners or even family members of the victim. Most traffickers are people the child knows, and they groom, coerce, or manipulate their victims into providing commercial sex or exploitative labor.

Myth: It only happens to people who are undocumented.
Truth: It can happen to anyone.

Myth: Human trafficking often involves physical violence.
Truth: Most traffickers use manipulation or threats instead of kidnapping or physical force.

Myth: People who are being trafficked are held against their will and are physically unable to leave.
Truth: Some people may not believe they are being trafficked because their trafficker is a loved one. Some victims may develop compassion toward their abuser and feel a sense of loyalty to them. Or they may not see themselves as victims, so they don’t seek or accept help. Others are afraid for their safety if they leave or are financially unable to leave the situation. It is important to note that victims may continue to go to school and live at home while they are being trafficked.

Myth: Only females are victims.
Truth: Both males and females are vulnerable to human traffickers. Oftentimes males are overlooked, or they are less likely to report than females.

Myth: Human trafficking and human smuggling are the same crime.
Truth: Human smuggling is the illegal movement of someone across a border. Human trafficking is the illegal exploitation of a person. However, many times human smuggling leads to human trafficking. In some instances, a child may be smuggled with the intent to be trafficked.

Though there are many misconceptions about human trafficking, the reality is it can happen to anyone, however there are ways to prevent it and to help those who have experienced it.