Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, but the people most vulnerable in the U.S. include youth in the welfare or juvenile justice system, runaway and homeless youth, undocumented immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and people with substance use disorder.
According to the Office of the Texas Attorney General:
- There are 234,000 victims of labor trafficking in Texas any given time.
- There are 79,000 victims of youth and minor sex trafficking in Texas at any given time.
Some common warning signs of human trafficking, according to experts, are:
- Unexplained absences, skipping school or work, or isolation from friends and family
- Expensive gifts that would normally be out of budget, like designer handbags or clothes
- Spending a lot of time with an older person who didn't previously have a relationship with the potential victim
- Carrying a second phone
- Avoiding eye contact, social interaction, and authority figures or law enforcement
- Seeming to adhere to scripted or rehearsed responses in social interaction
- Lacking official identification documents
What can you do? Here are some strategies to recognize or use:
Signal for Help
The Signal for Help is a nonverbal hand signal that provides a way to discreetly communicate when someone needs help. This signal was in the news last fall when a 16-year-old girl who was being abducted, used the signal to call for help and was subsequently rescued. Originally intended to help victims of domestic abuse, it now has become a more universal call for help.
Angel Shots
Another safe way to signal for help, although not as universal or ubiquitous, is called a "safe word drink." Used in bars and restaurants, if a person is feeling unsafe for whatever reason, they can order an Angel Shot and the staff will help them.
Ask For Angela
A similar strategy to Angel Shots is called the Ask for Angela campaign. Also used in some bars and restaurants, patrons can go to the bar and 'Ask for Angela'. This signals to the staff that they need assistance. Staff will help extricate the patron from the situation, call a cab or get them out to their car, and help them leave discreetly.
In the case of both Angel Shots and Ask for Angela, if the establishment participates in these programs there will be signs in the women's restroom, and/or men's depending on the clientele, to let the patrons know that these options for help are available.
Signage law in Texas aims to help victims of trafficking
As of Jan. 1, 2022, a new law was enacted that requires all salons and massage parlors across the state to have updated signage in their businesses with the goal to crack down on human trafficking and help victims by giving a number that anyone can call to report a suspected victim. Previously, the sign only had a DPS hotline for victims to call and report. Now, there will also be the number for the National Human Trafficking Hotline that anyone can call to report suspicious activity: 1 (888) 373-7888.
Resources
If you think that you or someone you know might be a victim of trafficking, you can contact SAFEline by phone at 512.267.SAFE (7233), by text at 737.888.7233 or by chat at safeaustin.org/chat. The SAFE Alliance is a merger of Austin Children's Shelter and SafePlace, both long-standing and respected human service agencies in Austin serving the survivors of child abuse, sexual assault and exploitation, and domestic violence.
You can also contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888 or reach the hotline by email: [email protected].
Infographic reprinted with permission from Kellison, B., Torres, M. I. M., Kammer-Kerwick, M., Hairston, D., Talley, M., & Busch-Armendariz, N. (2019). "To the public, nothing was wrong with me": Life experiences of minors and youth in Texas at risk for commercial sexual exploitation. Austin, TX: Institute on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, The University of Texas at Austin.