Human trafficking is a deeply disturbing problem worldwide and in the United States, often occurring unnoticed in plain sight. It can happen to anyone, including men, women, and children, all of whom can be forced against their will into labor or sex.
Since San Diego is the second largest city in California, with over 1.4 million residents and a major travel destination, it’s no surprise that human trafficking is a major threat. Our team hopes to raise awareness of the facts about human trafficking in San Diego to protect our community.
Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire is dedicated to ending this horrific human rights violation and works hard to help survivors regain control of their lives. With over four decades of experience supporting victims, we have achieved remarkable results for our clients, including $20 million for 22 young women in a sex trafficking operation.
Contact us online or call (619) 236-9363 to learn how we can support you in creating a better, safer future.
What Is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is a serious crime that involves exploiting people through force, fraud, or coercion for labor or sexual exploitation. Sometimes referred to as “modern-day slavery,” it affects an estimated 27.6 million people globally. However, it’s difficult to get an accurate number as victims rarely report their situation, and perpetrators operate covertly.
The human trafficking problem in America is one of the worst in the world. Unfortunately, the problem is only growing, with an estimated 1,091,000 people living in conditions of modern slavery in the U.S.
There are two main types of human trafficking in the U.S.: forced labor and sex trafficking. No one is completely safe from human trafficking, as it can affect anyone of any:
- Age
- Sex
- Gender identity
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Immigration status
- Socioeconomic Background
However, some individuals are more vulnerable to human trafficking, like children, women, migrant workers, people with disabilities, people of the LGBTQI+ community, and more. Also, contrary to popular belief, traffickers can be anyone, including:
- Strangers
- Acquaintances
- Family Members
Three elements are needed to establish a human sex or labor trafficking crime. This framework consists of “acts,” “means,” and “purpose,” also known as the “AMP” model. A situation must check at least one of the following elements below to be considered human trafficking legally:
Human Trafficking in San Diego Statistics
Unfortunately, San Diego is no exception to the dangers of human trafficking. In fact, the FBI reports that San Diego is one of the nation’s 13 hotspots for human trafficking. Below are a few facts to help you understand the question of how bad is human trafficking in San Diego:
- Human trafficking is the second-largest criminal industry in San Diego.
- There are thousands of victims of trafficking annually in San Diego, with approximately between 3,417 and 8,108 victims every year.
- The average age of a human trafficking victim in San Diego is 16 years old.
- Human trafficking is the second largest underground economy in San Diego, worth about $810 million.
- About 80% of victims in San Diego County are from the United States.
- Roughly 85% of perpetrators were gang-affiliated, with 110 gangs involved in the underground sex economy.
- Foster and homeless youth were at the greatest risk of experiencing human trafficking in San Diego.
How Human Traffickers Use Social Media
Today, social media has become an inseparable part of the younger generations’ lives. You would be hard-pressed to come by a child who did not at least have or use at least one social media platform.
A study by two local San Diego universities shockingly found that the human trafficking victims were rarely kidnapped. Instead, traffickers weaponize social media to lure younger victims by establishing relationships with them beforehand.
Predators disguise themselves as friends through online platforms to recruit victims, increase and spread their trafficking operations, coordinate sexual encounters, receive payments for minors’ sex acts, or manipulate and control victims.
In response to how human traffickers use social media, the District Attorney of San Diego, Summer Stephan, stated, “There needs to be more work on the social media platforms to screen out the destructive messaging and they can establish algorithms just like they do with selling us more things, to protect our kids.”
Human trafficking is a terrifying crime that robs people of their freedom and dignity, often condemning them to years or decades of unimaginable suffering. The emotional and physical trauma can haunt survivors for a lifetime.
That’s why at Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire, we are committed to holding traffickers accountable so they cannot continue to harm others. Contact us online or call (619) 236-9363 today to learn about your legal options to fight back.
Corporate Liability in the US for Human Sex Trafficking
In recent years, there has been a notable uptick in lawsuits against businesses that either turn a blind eye to human trafficking or are directly involved in it. This increase reflects a rising demand for corporate responsibility in combating human trafficking.
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act 2000 (TVPA) aims to regulate human trafficking and forced labor in the U.S., with some laws specifically targeting corporations and their suppliers, like sweatshops, for example. Furthermore, this law and other regulations require companies in vulnerable industries to scrutinize suppliers, address issues at the root, and enforce robust prevention policies and practices to address human trafficking.
A 2008 amendment to the TVPA allowed victims to bring a civil lawsuit against “whoever knowingly benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, from participation in a venture which that person knew or should have known has engaged in” sex trafficking. Therefore, victims can sue a business even if it did not directly traffic but knew about it.
Industries Vulnerable to Human Trafficking San Diego and Beyond
As a major tourist destination, San Diego boasts a huge hospitality market. However, human trafficking is especially relevant to businesses in the hospitality industry, such as hotels. Victims have been able to file lawsuits against hotels for ignoring red flags like:
- Visible physical injuries.
- Turning down housekeeping services.
- Requests by traffickers for multiple keys.
- Multiple people visit a single room, without staying overnight.
- Victims who avoid eye contact or are hesitant to interact with staff.
- Booking multiple rooms under a single name or using cash or prepaid cards for payment.
Sex traffickers frequently exploit the hospitality industry. Similarly, other sectors like construction and landscaping are susceptible to cases of forced labor or bonded labor, where a person is trapped working off debt.
Businesses have a responsibility to recognize human trafficking within their own operations or to track it to its source in their supply chain. Companies should do this not only to comply with laws and regulations but also because it is simply the right thing to do.
How to Spot Signs of Human Trafficking
It’s important to remember that it’s not just corporations that should be on the lookout for human trafficking. Each of us can play a role in identifying and reporting suspicious activity to help put a stop to human trafficking.
A few indicators of human trafficking that you should be aware of include:
- Victims who cannot speak freely or alone, appearing under the control of someone else.
- Individuals who work excessively long hours with little or no pay.
- People who live in crowded or unsuitable conditions.
- Signs of physical abuse or malnourishment.
- Lack of personal identification documents.
- People who seem fearful, anxious, or submissive.
If you suspect human trafficking activity, you can report a tip or any information you have to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Human Trafficking Prevention San Diego
Since human trafficking is running rampant in San Diego, the city is rolling out a new media campaign to address the insidious issue. The campaign includes radio announcements, outdoor billboards, and digital media in English and Spanish to educate children, youth, and their peers on how to protect themselves from human trafficking.
As one of the most vulnerable populations to human trafficking, it’s crucial to teach children early on about the signs and dangers of human trafficking so they can defend themselves. Law enforcement can only do so much to stop these tragedies, so change starts with education and prevention.
Human Trafficking San Diego: Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire Stands by Victims
While a human trafficking lawsuit cannot give you back the time ripped away from you or erase the pain you’ve endured, it can provide you with life-changing compensation to start rebuilding your life.
By holding traffickers accountable, you not only create a new future for yourself but also spark meaningful change to prevent other innocent people from suffering the same devastating fate.
Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire is deeply passionate about human trafficking, driven by the desire to bring justice to survivors who have fought through extreme hardships, make sure traffickers face consequences for their heinous acts, and contribute toward ending human trafficking.
If you are a victim of human trafficking, please know that you are not alone. Contact our team for a free, confidential consultation online or call (619) 236-9363 to tell us your story and take action against human traffickers.
Proudly Representing San Diego Residents