The Texas Department of Public safety is reminding Texans to be vigilant and learn the dangers of human trafficking as part of Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
DPS says human trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion in any type of labor exploitation or commercial sex act. It can also be when a person under the age of 18 is involved in commercial sex.
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It can happen to anyone, anywhere and it occurs in every state, every day and often goes unnoticed by communities.
“Human trafficking is a heinous crime that preys on the most vulnerable in our society,” said Colonel Freeman F. Martin. “We are committed to working tirelessly with our partners to identify and rescue victims, hold traffickers accountable and empower our communities with the knowledge they need to recognize and report suspicious activity. It will take all of us to stop it.”
In 2024, DPS Special Agents recovered 446 human trafficking victims and arrested 874 suspects on human trafficking charges.
Potential human trafficking indicators:
- A person appears to be under control of another person either physically (someone else controls the person’s possessions i.e., ID, money, phone) or psychologically (little to no eye contact, unable to speak for themselves or unable to make simple decisions without approval).
- A person has little to no awareness of their surroundings including where they are or where they are headed.
- A person has untreated illness or infection, visible injuries, appears malnourished or sleep deprived.
- A person’s clothing is inappropriate for the weather or environment or is dressed in a manner that does not appear age-appropriate or makes them appear older.
- A person is being transported to and from work by their employer.
- A person lives where they work or works excessively long or unusual hours.
- A person’s workplace has security measures that are unusual or excessive for the type of business (i.e., boarded or opaque windows, excessive security cameras).
If you see signs of human trafficking, call 911 immediately.
You can also make a report on iWatchTexas or call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “BeFree” to 233733.