Domestic Slavery: The Role Of Human Trafficking In America

In 2010, there were almost 30,000 Latino immigrants in Durham, ninety percent of which were undocumented immigrants (Johnson). Initially, most Latino immigrants arrived in the southwest, but since the turn of the century, more have settled in new destinations, such as Durham, and other parts of the Southeast, due to opportunities to work in low-skilled jobs.

Human trafficking is a prominent problem within the United States that is often overlooked. The definition of human trafficking is, “Human trafficking - the illegal practice of procuring or trading in human beings for the purpose of prostitution, forced labor, or other forms of exploitation” (“Human trafficking”). People in the United States believe that human trafficking is a problem that occurs in other less developed countries compared to the United States. What these individuals do not realize is that human trafficking occurs on American soil contrary to popular belief. The United States is one of the top three destination countries of human trafficking and human trafficking is a top criminal enterprise across the world (“WEAVE, Inc.”).

Human trafficking is an issue that no one really wants to talk about. The media portrays this horrible crime as something that only happens in foreign lands. Americans do not want to believe that something so heinous could happen on our own soil. However when survivors of human trafficking come forward, people are forced to confront the reality that this issue is not that far from home. Some individuals still choose to deny that this is a real issue. However the facts make it extremely hard to deny that human trafficking happens on American soil.

There are endless reasons that human trafficking exists in modern times. These reasons are not black and white, and have a multitude of contributing factors, cause and effect, and influences. The causation of the modern slave trade is outlined in chapters three, four, and five of the text: Human Trafficking: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, written by Mary C. Burke. Chapter three, titled, “Sociological Perspective: Underlying Causes” relates sociology to the concept of human trafficking to better understand the culture behind the slave trade, including political and economic characteristics. A factor contributing to the existence of human trafficking is globalization and the development of national economies. While globalization can be

In 1865 the United States passed the thirteenth amendment of the constitution which formally abolished the practice of slavery in the United States. Over a century has went by since this day, and yet somewhere behind the mask of freedom that our country holds with such pride lingers a hidden trade. This is the trade of modern day slavery that remains prevalent in our country. Despite the freedoms we are granted as a citizen of the United States,- human trafficking is an enormous issue that is often overlooked. In fact very little light is shown on this topic, but the awful reality is there. Every day women, children, and even men are kidnapped, taken from their families, and forced into free labor and sexual exploitation.

The reason why I pick to write about human trafficking is, because this is something not everyone talks about. Human trafficking is when some buy or sale someone as property. In order for this to happen it needs a buyer and it also needs a seller. In order for human trafficking to be control they would need a study buyer and a study seller. When you think of the word slavery you think it wouldn't be anything that come in the present day everyone think of this word as in being in the passed or don't exist anymore. Humans being force to do work with no freedom, no choice, also no pay. There are still slavery going on in this world today just because this is not the type of slavery we are used to, but we need to be aware about. Human trafficking and undocumented immigration is on a greater scale of slavery within this day of age.

In 1814 Author Francis Scott key coined the phrase “Land of the Free” in a poem that would go on to inspire the National Anthem. (Biography.com Editors). Those four simple words have held different truths for many throughout history, and the struggle to validate those words continues today. In the United States a modern-day form of human slavery still exists, known as human trafficking. Victims of human trafficking are forced to provide services or engage in commercial sex acts. (justice.gov). According to US. State Department there are thousands of cases of human trafficking in the US. and nearly 600,000 to 800,000 people trafficked across international borders each year. (State.gov). Human Trafficking is crime against humanity that strips

Slavery is when persons are owned and controlled by other persons, and they have little to no freedom. In Eastern Europe slavery ended in 1528, but human trafficking has been going on for thousands of years. A few decrees did not stop the horrible crime called human trafficking. By definition human trafficking is modern day slavery; people that are victims are imprisoned and worked until they are physically unable to any longer. Many people turn a blind eye to human trafficking. Despite the minimal efforts of various governments Eastern European human trafficking is on the rise, leading to an increase in the economic exploration of the victims of human trafficking.

The trafficking of human beings has evolved and become more universal and serious over the years. Trafficking of people is equivalent to modern day slavery. The duties and expectations of these people are outrageously irrational. The victims are forced to do unthinkable tasks for people they may or may not know. Anyone can be a leader or a victim of human trafficking. Victims of trafficking programs span from an extensive variety of women, children, and men ranging widely in age. There are two very diverse trafficking programs: sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Sex trafficking, the most common of the two trafficking programs, can also be referred to as sex slavery. The sex trafficking occurs when the unwilling are being forced to

The U.S. has tried to put forth efforts to prevent human trafficking, but they have failed to meet the overwhelming needs of victims. Victims have a long list of needs ranging anywhere from their physical needs, such as safe housing and medical care, all the way to their mental needs of having someone like a therapist. Smith writes that there is no one government agency dedicated to helping victims and providing such a wide array of needs. But there are many non-government agencies whose goal is to help assist victims (Smith 6-7). UNODC acknowledges that UNICEF, known as the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, is one of the leading agencies who are fighting human trafficking. Other organizations, such as International Labor

Human trafficking have become more significant in modern society. Measuring the extent and tracking the numbers of people trafficked yearly is difficult due to the covert operations of human trafficking worldwide (Shelley, 2010). Shelley noted that trafficking are often committed by discrete ethnic groups that are difficult to for foreigners or outsiders to penetrate (Shelley, 2010, p. 4). Europe is currently facing an increasing migration of illegal immigrants from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, with an estimated 400,000 people entering Europe each year (Shelley, 2010). Human trafficking and human smuggling in the U.S. is composed of young sex trafficking victims, and are often native born (Shelley, 2010). One of the problems of human

Slavery is a practice many believe to have been left behind in the 19th century with morale beliefs leaving behind this. However few don’t know that to this day, in the 21st century we still have slavery and the trading of humans as though they are property. This is Human Trafficking, and it is not a small issue, it is everywhere, and it holds its influence over our society globally. With a large number of people being trafficked, the United States alone having a 244,000 to 325,000 victims exported and imported for trafficking and to be sold. Worldwide this number is unfortunately far higher but looking alone at the United States can give an idea of how bad it must be worldwide and especially in 2nd to 3rd world countries where the governments

Human Trafficking is a horrendous crime that takes advantage of people through the illegal trading of human beings for purposes of forced labor, and commercial sexual/child exploitation. Traffickers tend to prey on the vulnerable, those who want a better life, have little or no employment opportunities, very unstable, and have a history of sexual abuse. With this being popular in society, anyone can easily become a victim. By being an undocumented immigrant, runaway and homeless youth, and a victim of trauma and abuse, you have already put a target on your back. The most popular victims are the undocumented immigrants due to the lack of legal status, language barriers, limited employment options, and social isolation. ("The Victims.")

Slavery is a modern, pervasive problem. Human trafficking has been found in every state in America (humantrafficking.org). It seems that most Americans likely live within a comfortable drive of someone who is being exploited through human trafficking. There is a growing trend in human trafficking toward sexual exploitation (Bennetts, 2011). The Information Age has helped to create new opportunities for sex trafficking to flourish.

More specifically then human trafficking, there is child trafficking. Child trafficking is today’s version of slavery that involves transferring a child for the purpose of abuse or illegal activities. According to the U.S. Department of State, “Child/Human Trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world and is the world’s second largest criminal enterprise, after drugs. Child trafficking happens in every single country, including the United States. When people think of trafficking of people, most think of women, but children are also being sold as slaves all across the world. Children who are most likely to become victims are those who come from low income homes, have limited access to education and are