Human Trafficking issue affects Wiregrass

Posted: 7:37 PM Mar 1, 2010
Reporter: Rayne McKenzie
rayne@wtvy.com

Human trafficking continues to be a growing problem across the nation.

Now, it's becoming a problem right here in Alabama.

There are reported cases of both slave labor and sex trafficking affecting men, women and children of all ages.

The issue of human trafficking is something many of us would be shocked to learn is a problem right here.

However, cases show it's happening in many of our neighborhoods and towns.

Many of these victims are kept under constant surveillance so they can't escape the bonds of "modern day slavery".

Immigration Specialist Sister Rose Marie Martell said, "Human trafficking is a problem everywhere."

It’s horrific and something that can affect anyone or any family.

Dan Werner with the Southern Poverty Law Center said, "The US Justice has an estimate of more than 200,000 children are at risk for being victims of human trafficking and some of those would be in Alabama."

It’s not just illegal immigrants who are being drawn into this modern day slavery.

Sister Rose said, “We need to be aware of situations such as youth who run away from home. They are highly susceptible to becoming trafficking victims, sex trafficking in particular, whether they are female or male."

One out of every three teens on the street will be lured toward prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.

The number of sex trafficking cases in the United States only continues to climb.

Sister Rose continued, “I have a sex case where this young woman was told she had a job working in Mexico. When she got there she found there was no job, she was forced across the border and was forced into a house of prostitution."

The suspects continue to prey on the weak that have no where else to turn.

"What I've gathered about the sex trafficking is that they are mostly looking for young women, virgins in particular that are brought to the US under the pretext that they are going to study,” explains Sister Rose. “Instead of studying, they are forced into prostitution. But it can be older women who have been told they are coming here to work and they can't wait to get here to make American wages only to find they are stuck in a brothel."

Those victims are then trapped in slavery for the rest of their lives, working as prostitutes or as field laborers for little to no money.

Trying to escape from this life is rarely an option.

Sister Rose added, "Life is very cheap to these people, obviously and if you are going to be a problem, you are going to be eliminated.”

And not only is the slavery hard to discover, the profits often outweigh the risk of getting caught.

"There is a lot of money to be made in drugs and there is a lot of money to be made in trafficking. As long as there is money to be made, people will do it," concluded Sister Rose.

Here in the Wiregrass, we see more slave labor than sex trafficking with immigrants being forced to work for very low wages.

Many of those workers come here legally on a visa, but when they start working, their manager takes their papers from them.

That keeps many from seeking help because they're worried about being turned over to immigration.

It’s a sad cycle that unfortunately has yet to be broken.


Human Trafficking issue affects Wiregrass

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