An estimated 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year.
About 17,500 people — just smaller than the population of Monroe — are brought into the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Community members discussed the impact of human trafficking after the presentation of "At the End of Slavery: The Battle for Justice in Our Time." The 30-minute film was produced by International Justice Mission and discusses the impacts of human trafficking and sexual slavery, and focuses on the victims.
Dundee Community Church of the Nazarene showed the film and facilitated a discussion.
"Trafficking happens in our area," said Amy Allen, victim specialist with the Office of Investigations at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Detroit.
Ms. Allen discussed the human trafficking that occurs in southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio.
"For us, trafficking looks like prostitution," she said. "It looks like someone in the nail salon who doesn’t speak our language."
Trafficking of immigrants for agricultural work also takes place within the state, Ms. Allen said. Many farm workers are brought from overseas and paid very little money to work 12 to 16 hour days.
In her position, Ms. Allen works with the victims of trafficking. She said many blame themselves and find it hard to trust law enforcement.
Just over the Michigan border is one of the largest trafficking hubs for sex in the country.
"Toledo has a very large problem with juvenile prostitution," Ms. Allen said. "Children are looped into the ‘pimp’ and ‘ho’ mentality as a glamorous lifestyle."
Many of the young girls are lured into the sex trade because of social networking and even friends who were brought in.
"They get sucked into it and it’s hard to get out," Ms. Allen said.
Tom Gregg of Ida has two teenage daughters who are into social networking. He said he wished he would have brought them to view the movie and hear the discussion.
"I was surprised at how much trafficking was taking place in Toledo," Mr. Gregg said. "I’m concerned."
Mr. Gregg said his concern stems from one of the stories Ms. Allen told about a girl who was sold into the sex industry while doing laundry at a young woman’s house.
Two million children are sold in to the sex industry each year, the film said, sometimes for as little as $30 to $50. One of the goals to end such trafficking in poverty-stricken communities is to promote education within schools and to empower women and teach them skills that can lead to jobs.
Another way to end trafficking is to prosecute the traffickers.
Cindy Ellison, a Monroe resident and president of Soroptimist of Monroe County, said one of the international service organization’s missions is to end human trafficking.
"We are campaigning within the community by putting up information in bus stops, police stations and Laundromats about trafficking," Mrs. Ellison said.
The local organization has been working on the campaign for about three years, but there is an increased focus this year.
"We wanted to find out what more we can do," she said.
The Rev. Roy Richardson, pastor to children and families at the church, is a member of International Justice Mission. After the film, he encouraged participants to learn more about human trafficking.
"This is one of those things you don’t think about, but it is close to our lives," he said. "We want to keep this conversation going."
For more information about the film, visit www.atthenedofslavery.com.
Local residents take closer look at how to end human trafficking - MonroeNews.com
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