Human trafficking involves exploiting men, women, or children for the purposes of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Human smuggling involves the provision of a service—typically, transportation or fraudulent documents—to an individual who voluntarily seeks to gain illegal entry into a foreign country.

Health: women and children trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation are at risk of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, and of spreading the diseases among wider society; people are trafficked in dangerous conditions and often held, even after they reach their destinations, in circumstances that …

Poverty and economic vulnerability are primary contributors to trafficking in persons. Economic vulnerability includes unemployment and lack of access to equal opportunities. These conditions induce people to migrate in search of better living conditions.

Task Forces: HSI participates in more than 120 human trafficking task forces nationwide, alongside other federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement.

In fiscal year 2019, ICE initiated 1,024 human trafficking and forced labor related cases which led to 2,197 criminal arrests. These effective actions resulted in nearly 700 convictions and the rescue of more than 400 victims.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Students: How to Take Action Against Human Trafficking

1. Create a club. Don’t go it alone! Start a club at your school that will focus on helping the victims of human trafficking.
2. Get educated.
3. Host events to raise awareness.
4. Petition to add human trafficking courses.
5. Volunteer with local organizations.

Contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline Visit disclaimer page if you have any concerns about a potential trafficking situation. Call 1-888-373-7888, text HELP to BEFREE (233733), or email [email protected]

Some prosecutors indicated that human trafficking cases were challenging to prosecute because the laws were relatively new and lacked precedent in case law and clarity in relevant statutes. Little to no cooperation and a lack of availability of victims and an absence of funding were also noted barriers to prosecution.

Human trafficking is often considered to be organised crime committed on a large commercial scale. But trafficking covers a range of criminal activity, and can also be committed by a single person who may be known or related to the victim.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance has also funded 42 Human Trafficking Task Forces to bring together federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, government agencies, and nongovernmental victim-service providers in a multidisciplinary approach to identify human trafficking crimes, assist human trafficking …

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 placed greater responsibility on law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of human trafficking while coordinating with victim service providers to meet the unique and diverse needs of trafficking victims.

Federal laws on human trafficking are enforced by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshal Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and Criminal Section, and other federal agencies.