BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
Oering input
Keep in mind
Human tra cking resources
Mark said human tra cking perpetrators target vulnerable individuals such as children who have endured abusive households, are in foster care or live in poverty. “We’ve actually had residents whose parents were their tra ckers when they were as young as 4 years old, trading them to pay the rent on the apartment,” Mark said. Leticia Manzano, manager of sexual violence services at the Houston Area Women’s Center, said human tra cking often occurs in establishments that act as fronts for typical businesses such as massage spas, bars and modeling agencies. “I often think of an immigrant client that I serve who someone told her, ‘This place is hiring,’ and so she started o just cleaning this spa, and then eventually she was forced to give a client a massage,” Manzano said. Jorge Alaniz, a sergeant with the Harris County Sheri’s O ce, said their biggest human tra ck- ing cases often involve young girls in foster care
According to the TDLR, signs of human tracking among employees working at businesses include: • Visible injuries such as bruises, redness or swelling • Gang signs, tattoos, new high-end clothing • Sexually provocative clothing inappropriate for weather or situation • Employees are not allowed or are unable to speak for themselves or make their own decisions • Employees are fearful of authorities • Third-party control of identity documents • Claim of boyfriend or girlfriend relationship with an older individual How to report human tracking • National Human Traf icking Hotline: www.humantrafickinghotline.org/ report-traficking
Shield Bearer Counseling Centers: 281-894-7222 Houston Area Women’s Center: 713-528-6798 Anyone seeking help to recover or nd a sanctuary from human tracking can reach out to:
Redeemed Ministries: 832-447-4130 National Human Tracking Hotline: call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733
SOURCE: HUMAN TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONSCOMMUNITY IMPACT
who are manipulated into prostitution. “Human tra cking is not a victimless crime,” Alaniz said. “People think that because it’s two adults consenting to sex that no one’s really being hurt, and that’s a big misconception because they don’t understand that people are being forced through threats and coercion.” Alaniz also said human tra cking is typically seen in businesses such as massage parlors, nail salons, cantinas and among people who are forced to sell ¡owers on the side of the road.
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