Human Trafficking & Labor Exploitation
If you or someone you know fears they might be a victim of human trafficking, contact CSA San Diego County.
CSA San Diego County
Training on Community Awareness
outreach@c4sa.org
(619) 444-5700
What is Human Trafficking?
Human Trafficking is defined as coerced or forced labor and confinement of people for the purposes of slavery and prostitution. A person can be constrained to slavery in either physical or psychological ways, in many cases both. It is not uncommon for victims to be in-cognizant to their actual situation, thus neglecting to obtain resources or help from law officials. Knowing key warning signs for trafficking is vital in helping victims.
Human Trafficking does not require a person be forcibly transported from one place to another, as many victims are often recruited at local malls, shops and even schools through incited conversations. Human Trafficking victims can be trafficked within their own community. Studies show that 79.3% of sex trafficking victims are born in the US, with only 11.4% of victims coming from Mexico. Almost 500,000 children run away from home every year and about 1 out of every 3 children will be coerced into sex slavery by the end of their second day living out on the streets. Although human trafficking and human smuggling are different, smuggling can turn into trafficking if a person is forced or coerced into sexual exploitation or labor and held against their will. CSA is dedicated to helping those who have fallen victim to this heinous crime and providing attorney referrals to victims of labor exploitation and victims of discrimination. We focus on prevention of trafficking, protection of victims, and prosecution of traffickers.
CSA San Diego County helps victims of Human Trafficking by:
Assisting in the recovery of lost wages
Referring them to Attorney for legal services
Creating a culture of knowledge about constitutional rights
Enforcing fair labor laws such as the Employment Authorization Document Form I-765.
Strengthening and building collaborative network
Referrals to Proyecto Empleo where labor trafficking victims can learn about their legal rights.
Prosecution of Traffickers
Prevention of Labor Trafficking
Prevention of Child Trafficking
What Happens to Victims of Human Trafficking?
Victims are forced into the sex tourism industry, brothels, massage parlors, escort agencies, strip clubs, sweat shops, pornography, indentured servitude, or slave labor. Human trafficking is smuggling plus coercion or deception at the beginning of the transportation process and exploitation at the end of the transportation process.
“Slavery still exists! In the US, the law refers to modern-day slavery as trafficking in persons. This means buying, selling or receiving any person for labor or services by force, trickery or coercion in order to exploit them. The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act 2000, and its 2003 ratification has increased the penalties for trafficking and increased the social services available to survivors of this horrific crime.”
Each year, human trafficking generates millions of dollars for criminals who prey on the most vulnerable— the poor, the uneducated, and the impoverished immigrant seeking a better life. CSA hopes to change that!
How are the Victims of Human Trafficking Often Identified?
Fearful of strangers
Signs of abuse
Stress or trauma
Lacks freedom to move about
Isolated from community
How are Victims Often Recruited?
Mail order brides, maid/housekeeping schemes
Illegal adoptions
Modeling agencies
Smuggling networks
CSA Builds Bridges to Action on Human Trafficking
Estela de Los Rios presenting to community leaders on labor trafficking.
On September 26th, CSA San Diego County participated in “Bridges to Action on Human Trafficking” event at First United Methodist Church in San Diego. Director Estela De Los Rios attended on our behalf to meet with leaders of the San Diego region to identify key issues and areas of concern that require collaboration and attention from multiple stakeholders. The event facilitated by the San Diego Interfaith Collaborative sought “to become acquainted with other leaders so that common understanding, support and collaboration can be shared in the midst of crisis and disaster.”
Estela de Los Rios gave a presentation on labor trafficking, a booming crime that has insidious consequences. Her presentation defined the scope and magnitude of the exploitative issue, along with a case that CSA San Diego County aided an abused worker to get the help he needed from law enforcement. Santiago Perez Navarro was an undocumented worker being abused by his boss at Betty’s Taco shop. With the help of CSA, Mr. Navarro was able to obtain justice and received a T-visa. Estela’s presentation and this story were able to educate local leaders on an issue that often gets overlooked or underreported in the San Diego area.
Since 1994, CSA San Diego County has been a leading agency in San Diego County in raising awareness to end the perpetration of human trafficking and labor exploitation. CSA San Diego County’s Human Trafficking Program provides personal support and advice for victims by referring victims to a network of services that includes immigration services, eligibility for social services, legal representation, psychological assistance, and housing. Additionally, we have worked extensively with numerous faith based organizations and social service organizations to aid those who are victimized by trafficking.
An Exploratory Study of Labor Trafficking Among U.S. Citizens
Labor trafficking is a devastating crime that robs victims of their humanity and denies workers basic human rights. Much of the focus on labor trafficking has been around individuals who are foreign nationals. Very little is known about U.S. and naturalized citizens who have experienced labor trafficking or exploitative labor practices. Many
U.S. and naturalized citizens are at risk of a multitude of factors, such as homelessness, addiction, disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, and mental health conditions that could make them vulnerable or victims of labor trafficking. Understanding the labor trafficking experiences of U.S. and naturalized citizens will begin the process of addressing this important, and often hidden crime, as well as ensure victims are receiving the assistance they need for a full recovery.
Supported by the National Institute of Justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Northeastern University, and University of Massachusetts-Lowell have undertaken a research study that seeks to answer the following questions:
What personal or structural vulnerabilities put U.S. citizens at risk for labor trafficking?
How do U.S. citizens experience labor trafficking victimization?
Where does labor trafficking experience fall on a continuum of labor exploitation for U.S. citizen workers?
The study is being undertaken in three different cities in the United States and will focus on individuals who are U.S. and naturalized citizens and at high risk for labor trafficking victimization. Surveys will be administered that include indicators of labor trafficking and abusive and exploitative labor practices. One-on-one interviews will be conducted with a sub-sample of these victims to further understand the context of their experiences.
The results of this study will be instrumental in the following ways:
Provide information necessary to improve recognition and response to labor trafficking victimization.
Inform additional national and international anti-trafficking initiatives to further address the issue of labor trafficking.
Provide insight into how victims are engaging in service systems and their service needs.
Identify the pathways in which individuals are recruited into labor trafficking or exploitative employment situations.
Test a screening tool for identifying labor trafficking victimization.
Principle Investors
Meredith Dank, Ph.D.; John Jay College of Criminal Justice
(212) 393-6413
mdank@jjay.cuny.edu
Amy Farrell, Ph.D.; Northeastern University School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
(617) 373-7439
am.farrell@neu.edu
Sheldon Zhang, Ph.D.; University of Massachusetts-Lowell School of Criminology and Justice Studies
(978) 934-4160
sheldon_zhang@uml.edu
Research Associate Andrea Hughes, LMSW John Jay College of Criminal Justice
(212) 887-6107
ahughes@jjay.cuny.edu
Funding: National Institute of Justice
Identifying Victims of Labor Trafficking
Santiago Perez Navarro, a survivor of labor trafficking, and a CSA San Diego County success story
CSA was also able to save a labor trafficked worker, Santiago, from sexual and labor exploitation at a local taco stand by helping him obtain a T-Visa. He is now safe, on the path towards citizenship and speaking out for other survivors. Check out Santiago’s story at World Without Exploitation.
Victims of labor trafficking are young children, teenagers, men and women. Some of them enter the country legally on worker visas for domestic, “entertainment,” computer and agricultural work, while others enter illegally. Some work in legal occupations such as domestic, factory or construction work, while others toil in illegal industries such as prostitution or panhandling.
Although there is no single way to identify victims of labor trafficking, some common patterns include:
Victims are often kept isolated to prevent them from getting help. Their activities are restricted and are typically watched, escorted or guarded by associates of traffickers. Traffickers may “coach” them to answer questions with a cover story about being a student or tourist.
Victims may be blackmailed by traffickers using the victims’ status as an undocumented alien or their participation in an “illegal” industry. By threatening to report them to law enforcement or immigration officials, traffickers keep victims compliant.
People who are trafficked often come from unstable and economically devastated places as traffickers frequently identify vulnerable populations characterized by oppression, high rates of illiteracy, little social mobility and few economic opportunities.
Women and children are overwhelmingly trafficked in labor arenas because of their relative lack of power, social marginalization, and their overall status as compared to men.
Working in conjunction with San Diego State University research project, CSA has identified the top 10 categories of trafficking incidents and exploitation incidents in San Diego County. We’ve been able to track and document deceptive practices and exploitative abuses related to labor trafficking.
“Looking for a Hidden Population: Trafficking of Migrant Laborers in San Diego County”
An SDSU research project conducted in November of 2012 with CSA San Diego Facts & Figures.
Advocacy & Partnerships
Since 1994, CSA has been a leader in raising awareness to end the perpetration of human trafficking and labor exploitation in San Diego. CSA’s ED, Estela de Los Rios, has worked extensively with numerous nonprofit organizations to aid those who are victimized by trafficking.
CSA provides:
Support
Advocacy
Assistance to victims of hate crimes and human trafficking
Helps with compensation of damages, immigration, and eligibility for social services.
CSA’s Human Trafficking program is focused on community outreach and education for middle and high school students.
CSA is Proud to Partner With:
World Without Exploitation: To gain insight on human trafficking outreach, and strategies, and to advocate on the national level for policy change. We also network to learn about resources available to survivors. Read some success stories here.
The Well Path: CSA partners with Human Trafficking Survivor Marjorie Saylor and her nonprofit to model, enhance, and provide direct services to human trafficking survivors.
San Diego’s District Attorney Office and FBI
San Diego Interfaith Collaborative
San Diego Coalition against Human Trafficking
Local school districts and Point Loma Nazarene University Center for Justice and Reconciliation. CSA’s work with school and law enforcement has proven to be successful such as the results from the 2014 rescue raid.
