Demographics of trafficked persons Human trafficking in Texas

1 demographics of trafficked persons

1.1 general characteristics
1.2 region of origin

1.2.1 latin america

1.2.1.1 structural causes in mexico
1.2.1.2 coyotes


1.2.2 east asia

1.2.2.1 southeast asia

demographics of trafficked persons
general characteristics

most trafficked persons in texas, whether domestic or international, come lower socioeconomic backgrounds. internationally trafficked persons lured false promises of education , better life in united states. in other situations, begins smuggling arrangement can turn case of human trafficking. in these schemes, smuggled persons forced coercive labor agreements upon arrival in order pay off smuggling debts, , additional, “unforeseen” smuggling costs incurred during transportation added total. many of these exploitative labor agreements deduct money food , shelter, , smuggled persons kept in dark how still owe smuggler. has become increasingly more common increased border security has pushed cost of smuggling u.s. international trafficking victims controlled threats of deportation, confiscation of identification , travel documents, , threats of physical harm other family members @ home. other reasons trafficked persons hesitation in reporting criminal activity authorities include fear of incurring felony charges illegal immigration status, distrust of criminal justice system, language barriers, , unawareness of own victimization, occurs trafficked minors.

intense anti-immigrant hostility sectors of u.s. population , increasingly stringent border control policies in past couple decades have fed growing human trafficking trade. these factors have severely restricted job options of undocumented immigrants least desirable jobs, many of can transform exploitative forced labor contracts , forced prostitution.

region of origin
latin america

a third of 50,000 people annually trafficked united states latin america, , majority of these people enter through mexico- texan border. extremely porous border has historically been site of 1 of protracted labor migrations in world, , holds title north america s largest transit site young children exploited in labor , sex trafficking. mexico serves source, destination, , transit country trafficked persons countries on latin america, including brazil , guatemala, , 100,000 women transported across latin american borders every year employment prostitutes.

structural causes in mexico

mexico s social instability has helped feed burgeoning human trafficking trade u.s. between 2000 , 2002, approximately 135,000 children in mexico kidnapped, presumably exploitation in prostitution, pornography, or illegal adoption trafficking. estimated there around 16,000 children engaged in prostitution in mexico.

map of mexico

while sex work not legal in mexico, cities have zonas de tolerancia (areas prostitution allowed), , has made mexico huge destination sex tourism , 1 of world s largest hubs sex trafficking. high profitability of prostitution in mexico has inevitably led forcible exploitation of many girls sex workers. mexico on tier 2 watch list of state department s annual trafficking in persons report, designation given countries not meet minimum standards of trafficking victims protection reauthorization act of 2003 (tvpra), still making efforts comply these guidelines. 1 of reasons given designation mexico s thriving child sex trafficking industry- there 16,000 20,000 mexican , central american children being trafficked sex in mexico. significant reason mexico s lack of commitment anti-trafficking efforts on national level , complete absence of national anti-trafficking law. governmental ineffectiveness , rampant corruption has corroded trust in mexican government, evident in declining rate of crime reporting in border regions of mexico.

running away home 1 of largest risk factors eventual exploitation , trafficking of both children , adults. there variety of reasons mexico s large number of runaways, including domestic violence (whether directed @ them or @ other family members), parental substance abuse, other family dysfunctions such extreme poverty, or constant sexual abuse perpetrated people @ home or in community, of make home unpleasant living environment. large consequence of running away halting of formal education, leaving runaways untrained jobs other sex work. because these children lack social support society, government, or family, vulnerable exploitation pimps , traffickers, conceal true intentions providing these runaways , pretending care them. lack of social or medical support leads development of drug addictions among runaways coping mechanism, many pimps , traffickers taking advantage of addiction.

many of trafficked persons mexico end in u.s. teen mothers. despite fact many of these pregnancies result of rape members of community or family, thrown out of homes , receive little no social support society or government. consequence, these girls not able complete education, giving them few options employment. because receive little or no financial support fathers, many of whom desert them following pregnancy, , because typically have incomplete educations, these girls have no other option turn prostitution in order provide both , children. in situations, traffickers or pimps provide assistance pregnant girls, later leverage coerce them sex work. in other situations, traffickers use child coerce mothers sex work, either threatening abuse towards child or withholding child mother.

one of major factors leading creation of mexico s extensive trafficking industry (and consequent overflow texas) widespread sexual assaults of indigenous women during central american civil wars of 1980s. thousands of poor women, rural areas, raped during el salvadorean , nicaraguan civil wars army personnel , civil police. subsequently shunned communities tainted , ruined, leading many of them migrate north escape family shame , war-time conditions.

coyotes

coyote colloquial term used refer migrant smugglers along mexico- united states border. in past, coyote-migrant relationship ended once smuggled person reached united states. however, in recent years, has become increasingly more common coyotes coerce migrants exploitative labor agreements upon reaching u.s. these labor agreements involve forced agricultural labor , forced prostitution, working conditions these migrants never have consented had been informed. coyotes able use threat of unpaid debt coerce migrants these agreements. rising costs of smuggling, result of increased border security, has made easier migrants become indebted smugglers. additionally, expansion of role of coyote transportation of migrants final destination upon arrival in u.s., previously, smuggler’s job solely covered transportation across border, incurs additional expenses migrant must pay, , increases likelihood of being exploited , trafficked coyote forced laborers.

smugglers offer reduced fees women , children migrants, sexually assault or rape them payment . human traffickers masquerading coyotes use false promises of guaranteed jobs lure migrants, , kidnap women , children along journey, either ransom families, or sold in servitude or prostitution. unaccompanied children, including runaways, sold prostitution trafficker, , families falsely led believe died during transit.

east asia

east asia 1 of main regions of origin many trafficking victims coerced prostitution. constituent regions include northeast asia (china, japan, north , south korea, mongolia, , russia) , southeast asia (burma, thailand, laos, nepal, philippines, cambodia, india, bangladesh, , sri lanka), majority of trafficked persons coming southeast asia , south korea. majority of east asian countries categorized tier 2, tier 2 watch list, or tier 3 of state department s annual trafficking in persons report.

east asia large migrant exporter, number of people leaving region increasing 30% between 1995 , 2005. while of these people leave through legal means, huge exodus of people has facilitated evolution of large transnational human trafficking networks, , united states large destination many of these trafficked persons. these large transnational crime networks traffic women , children, , cycle them through prostitution circuits stops in large metropolitan areas around country, several weeks @ time. texas attractive stop these circuits due sizable asian population, makes easier asian trafficking victims blend in. texas sex trafficking operations involving asian women , children typically operate out of massage parlors , hostess clubs, , located in predominantly asian areas asian customer bases.

southeast asia

southeast asia world s largest hub trade in women , children, , accounts third of world s human trafficking trade. southeast asia largest regional source trafficking united states, 60% of internationally sourced trafficked persons in u.s. originating southeast asia. source countries include burma, thailand, laos, nepal, philippines, cambodia, india, bangladesh, , sri lanka. majority of trafficked persons southeast asia involved in forced prostitution, there isolated cases of forced domestic labor. main social determinant sex trafficking in southeast asia poverty, many women promised opportunity earn money families. in addition, poverty linked other social determinants, such lack of formal education , low class status. large social determinant sex trafficking southeast asia low value placed in women , girls. result of custom women change loyalties husbands families following marriage , financial burden of marriage dowries, placed on bride s family , high in countries india.