Children of color are disproportionately victimized by human trafficking in the U.S.
Macy Morales
Why are children of color disproportionately affected by human trafficking in the U.S.?
In 2022, human trafficking generated over $150 billion in profit for traffickers in the U.S. Racism and sexism creates a high demand for minorities in trafficking. Human trafficking dehumanizes a person by the exploitation and disregard for them. This feeds into the desire for trafficked minorities because it reflects the stereotypes of dominating the "other". Developing countries that have encountered colonialism are especially vulnerable to human trafficking because of their political and economic instability.
Traffickers choose children because they are the most vulnerable physically and mentally so they make easy targets. The one event that almost all victims of child sex trafficking share is running away. Most children who run away are experiencing some type of abuse or neglect at home which causes them to leave. Children on the streets cannot provide for themselves so they have to turn to illegal ways to fulfill their survival needs. This greatly increases their risk of encountering dangerous situations.
There are multiple ways that children can illegally obtain their basic survival needs and most of this is done by the exploitation of the child. Frequently, minors that run away resort to survival sex which increases the likelihood of them encountering high-risk situations and can lead them to interacting with people who can exploit their vulnerabilities and coerce them into trafficking. Minors may be lured into sex trafficking by pimps because they are promised love and care, something most children who runaway are in search for. Pimps can provide shelter, food, clothes, gifts, and money. Traffickers have many manipulation tactics and kids are very vulnerable both physically and mentally making it easier for traffickers to gain control over them. Some minors may be introduced to sex trafficking through their own family who intentionally and sometimes unintentionally send them off to pimps for monetary gain. In multiple documentaries on child sex trafficking there has been a common theme of "contractors" who approach families in poverty offering jobs for the children. Most families believe the child is getting sent off for labor but some families are aware of the true intentions of these "contractors". Oftentimes the families are told the minor that has been sent off has gone missing but in reality the minor has been sex trafficked.
The most common types of labor trafficking is farm work, factory jobs, construction, landscaping, and housekeeping. Traffickers in the U.S. target migrant children because they will completely depend on their traffickers for basic needs like shelter, food, and water all while trying to pay off a debt that will continue to increase as living expenses increase. Some migrant children get manipulated into paying a debt because contractors approach their families in their home country and promise to smuggle their child into the U.S. so they can get a job and chance to go to school. Many families take this offer because they are poor and need the extra money from their child but this also adds a smuggling fee which can range from $5,000-$20,000. This creates a cycle that is extremely hard to break free from. These children are forced to work long hours at night and live under the conditions of their traffickers which usually consists of a filthy, inhumane environment.
It is important to recognize all the effects that poverty can have on an individual. Experiencing poverty is an extremely stressful situation and can make people desperate to fulfill their basic needs. We need to understand the trauma that poverty can cause and be empathetic to all victims. More awareness needs to brought to this topic as many people feel it is taboo and are uncomfortable to talk about it. Empowering women and children is a vital step to preventing human trafficking.