Authors: Richard Schoeberl, Anthony (Tony) Mottola and David Gonzalez
Understanding the root cause and push-and-pull factors that funnel people into labor trafficking can lead to a better understanding of the vulnerabilities that immigrant populations in the U.S. face. The Polaris Project’s 2020 data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline identified 70% of persons trafficked for labor are foreign nationals, and 48% are from Latin America. Hope for Justice, a global nongovernmental organization (NGO) combatting human trafficking, explored the reported concerns in 2022. Investigators with the NGO conducted a case involving “Marco,” who was one of several minors interviewed regarding possible labor trafficking.
Originally published in the journal Domestic Preparedness, May 2023.
