Human trafficking can happen to anyone. Adults and children of all gender identities have been identified as victims of human trafficking in the United States. United States citizens and foreign nationals have both been trafficked in America.
Human trafficking occurs when a trafficker exploits a victim’s vulnerability for a profit. Significant risk factors include recent migration or relocation, drug or alcohol abuse, disabilities, poverty, involvement with the child welfare system and being a runaway or homeless youth. These vulnerabilities can be exploited by traffickers to leverage power and control over a victim.
Women and girls of color are disproportionately vulnerable to sex trafficking.
In 2011, the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics found that:
According to Rights4Girls:
94%
of victims of sex trafficking are female
66%
Roughly three quarters are people of color
This is born out in local examples, like those from King County, Washington
According to Rights4Girls:
84%
of identified child sex trafficking victims are female
52%
of identified child sex trafficking victims are Black
In Multnomah County, Oregon
According to Rights4Girls:
95%
of identified child sex trafficking victims are female
27%
of identified child sex trafficking victims are Black
6%
Black people comprise less than 6% of the population
In Louisiana
According to Rights4Girls: