The 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) became the first comprehensive federal law to address human trafficking. Since then, all 50 US states have passed legislation to combat trafficking but human trafficking still occurs in all 50 states – in urban, suburban and rural areas.
Who are Victims of Human Trafficking in the US?
In the United States, some of the people most vulnerable to human trafficking may be surprising. Significant risk factors are: recent migration or relocation, substance use, involvement in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems; and being a runaway or homeless youth.
Who are the Traffickers?
Often traffickers identify and leverage their victims’ vulnerabilities. Traffickers can be strangers, but are often acquaintances, or even family members, who prey on the vulnerable and on those seeking opportunities to build for themselves a brighter future.
How Many Victims of Human Trafficking Are There?
It is hard to find reliable statistics for human trafficking. Crimes are by their nature hidden. Human trafficking has been difficult to prosecute and traffickers are frequently charged with other, related crimes instead. The best data we have come from the National Human Trafficking Hotline. In 2021, 16,710 victims were identified after follow-up of calls made to the hotline, 1,253 of these were in Florida. In December 2022,
If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, the National Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 888-373-7888.
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