Introduction
Before the international society came together in 2000 to draft and a policy and treaty on trafficking, there have been illegal movement aspects of the various small issue of cross-border sexual harassment of women and girls. Unexpectedly and quickly, trafficking became a platform for a wide range of illegal, forceful, and exploitative activities. In modern society, migration means the movement of an individual of a group of people within the country or across other countries. According to IOM, it is a group of people with similar origins, length, causes, and composition. Human migration and trafficking entail the migration of needy persons such as displaced, refugees, economic migration, and people traveling for personal reasons since 2000. United Nations has adopted strategies to suppress, prevent, and punish human trafficking, especially children and women. Precisely, trafficking in person is the transfer, transportation, or harboring of individuals by force or means of threats, abduction, deception, and abuse of powers. There is receiving of benefits to achieving a person's efforts tolling people for harassment. Other harassments are forced labor activities, sexual exploitation, servitude, slavery, and removal of body organs. This paper explains the aspects of human migration and trafficking of two selected countries, political perspectives, social and political causes of human migration and trafficking, and various case studies involving the migration/trafficking.
Political Perspective: USA (Southern Florida) and Mexico Human Trafficking
Political Perspective
At the end of the 1980s, human migration and trafficking have been considered significant features in political agendas of government, religious sectors, non-governmental and inter-governmental sectors. Most of the women from Asia and Western Europe were brought into western Europe and forced into prostitution. In the beginning, all civic organizations were against the trafficking and were forced to take action. Shortly, governmental and intergovernmental followed suit ( Gramegna , 2008). Human trafficking is currently a significant plan of discussion in many private and public institutions. Precisely, policy-making and implementation have rarely responded to the real needs to eliminate the crime of human migration and trafficking ( Gramegna , 2008). Instead, the offense has been restricted by many political, social, ideological, and moral impacts involved in human trafficking actions.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Additionally, governments have repeatedly tried to reduce these multidimensional issues to simplistic, often single-dimensional, terms. In most regions like America and Mexico, trafficking occurs within the political borders (Still, 2017). It is crucial to note that all morally motivated agendas and the need for a quick change and to be seen as working for changes are all replaced by political laws, programs, and policies based on facts and researched data (Cameron & Newman, 2008). Unfortunately, efforts to stop human trafficking are normally restricted by the lack of uncertainty in terms of meaningful approaches by the government and non-governmental organizations (Cameron &Newman, 2008). In some political instances, they usually confuse smuggling with human trafficking or apply both concepts alternatively. Also, the discussions become infused with uncertainty and lack of clarity with unfortunate political and public responses. Therefore, political aspects are the main concerns in human migration and trafficking.
South Florida
In America, South Florida is highly involved in various human trafficking issues. According to National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH), it is ranked as a third state in human trafficking incidences, behind California and Texas. Under US laws, human trafficking is known as harboring, soliciting, transportation, and providing another individual for transport (Reid et al.., 2017). Various purposes of human trafficking in South Florida are forced labor, sexual exploitation fraud, coercion, or domestic issues.
From a political perspective, Southern Florida has been affected by human trafficking for many years. An estimation of more than eighteen thousand to twenty thousand individuals are transported across the national borders every year (Dyer et al., 2012). According to federal-anti trafficking, legal policies define trafficking in persons to mean those mostly forced into commercial sex acts or labor trafficking through force or fraud. In 2002, the United States Congress introduced Protection Legal Acts to protect trafficking victims. A subsequent evaluation of these standard plans was done where the trafficked individual was given rights similar to those of the refugees, including the entitlement of health services rights (Dyer et al., 2012). The enacted right rules specifically provide conditions such that trafficked persons must become certified as victims by either human health services or the US office or refugee resettlement. Also, for every trafficked individual to become certified, he/she must cooperate with law enforcement through the documents provided. During the investigations, all the victims are to remain in the country.
Mexico
Vulnerable groups, many of whom are children and women, are the main targets of human migration and trafficking organized crimes across Mexico and United States borders. Despite the adoption of more anti-trafficking rules in Mexico, which mainly focus on criminal deportation, the country's regions have become the platform of increased illegal immigration and trafficking. Mexico has experienced an unpredicted influx of criminals who lack directions to direct them to cope with their lifestyle and political laws (Cicero, 2005). They continue with their criminal attempts, especially in human trafficking. Unfortunately, some of Mexican legal frameworks authorities have increased activism on crime-fighting effectiveness and scope.
From a political perspective, The Congress of Mexico implemented a law against human immigration and trafficking in 2007. All the federal districts passed the laws themselves without involving other powerful states such as America. The Mexican government passed another new rule in 2012, which rendered all the individuals who practice human trafficking criminals. In efforts to address the demands of slaves and prostitution, the labor and social welfare sector introduced workshops and training in 2010 to protect children and women from being subjected to position and forced labor (Cicero, 2005). In Mexico, the government and NGOs had representatives who identified some politicians and local leaders to relate and are sometimes playing a part in the impending implementation of trafficking and anti-trafficking status. Luckily, Mexico has succeeded in fighting the issue by forming group campaigns such as Crimes Blue Heart Campaigns hence becoming the first Latin America to do so.
Causes of Migration and Human Trafficking: South Florida and Mexico
Social Factors
Limited access to the available resources, poverty, unemployment, and oppression are the breeding social factors of human trafficking in both countries. Many people in the states find themselves in a cage of low social-economic status where they often put a lot of effort to reach wealth in the hope of prosperous life. First, poverty does not only rely on economic issues but also cultural, political, and social indicators of ill-being hence multi-faceted. Poverty normally undermines individual rights and status. Some undermined rights are the rights to work, access affordable healthcare, education, exercise culture, among others. Concerning human trafficking, initially, every country has various poverty incidences where the migration and trafficking routes are connected with the developed states or countries ( Weatherburn , 2015). The vulnerability caused by a lack of social opportunities is the root cause of human trafficking activities. Also, a low standard of living is the main reason most innocent individuals fall under the hands of the traffickers.
For instance, in South Florida, most immigrants have limited resources and opportunities to engage in economic activities to fight poverty. The researchers show that Florida has the highest cases of trafficking in the US. Most of the immigrant populations are regarded as refugees who do not have any means of earning. Due to high immigrants, people, and large agricultural economies have developed forced labor. The poor immigrants work under force, especially in the tomatoes industry, to earn a living (SPLC, 2008). The National Human Trafficking Centers claims to receive more than one thousand, five hundred calls and emails in 2015 about human trafficking in Florida.
Mexico is known for its extreme resources and income inequalities, and poverty. Poverty can increase human trafficking in various ways. Most of the low-income families decide out of desperation and lack of literacy skills. For instance, Mexico's poor parents might leave their families to go to other developed countries, hence becoming the traffickers' victims (Acharya & Codina, 2012). Besides, victims usually adapt to their position because they feel it is the best choice and the only way to earn and cater to their personal and family needs.
Another social factor in line with human immigration and trafficking is gender inequality and feminism of poverty. Women are the most affected persons. They are usually vulnerable to poverty as a result of unlimited jobs and education opportunities. In 2011, European governments recognized the state. They declared the equality between men and women to reduce and preventing women's poverty as a crucial action on the principles of solidarity ( Gramegna , 2008). Trafficking of women and girls is well recorded in most countries. For instance, in Southern Florida, the records show the high number of women forced into prostitution and forced labor in the states and outside countries. Women were regarded as inferior, so they could be trafficked with no objections (Still, 2017). Even in Mexico, women trafficking has increased significantly on sexual harassment and forced labor.
Political Factors
Political instabilities are one of the significant aspects and causes of human migration and trafficking. In most of the world's countries, communism has described that political instability can lead to increased human trafficking cases. The development of the market economy and political changes leads to economic dragging and stagnation, a high unemployment rate, and social services' demolition ( Gramegna , 2008). As a result of the transition phase, mass migration in developed countries have been experienced where most of the people purpose to obtain passports to travel. Human traffickers took this as an opportunity, taking advantage of the immigrants who cross for explorations.
Consequently, political instability pushes individuals to leave their country to pursue a more favorable lifestyle and environment. According to law enforcement agencies, political instability on uncertain government measures, regime development, and conflict situations motivate people to seek freedom in western European countries. This is a ground of human trafficking development as the decline of communism increases the people’s vulnerability to human trafficking. For example, in South Florida and Mexico, high political instability cases have caused a high rate of human trafficking. Civil unrests, militarism, internal political armed conflicts, and natural disasters are the leading political causes of human immigration and trafficking (US Department of State, 2001). During wars in these countries, there occurred instability and population displacement, resulting in high poverty, vulnerability, and human trafficking
Another political factor causing human trafficking in both countries is official corruption. European country commissions have identified this issue as one of the most significant factors for all societies. Official corruption can be regarded as a misuse of public services for individual interests and gains ( Gramegna , 2008). Official corruption has severe connections to human trafficking, which cannot be sufficiently addressed by a few countries; it requires the effort of numerous countries and bodies. Eventually, the relationship between human trafficking and official corruption has been considered. Crime acts as a facilitator to the trafficking act. It assists the criminal planned groups, including human traffickers, to collect ideas that motivate them for illegal activities where they manage and risk their unlawful decisions.
For example, in Florida, security departments and immigrations have recorded several suspected human traffickers having and selling over three thousand fake documents by corrupting the agencies. Scam artists have been collaborating with corrupt government officials who offer illegal visa services to open the way for human migration and trafficking ( Winebrenner , 2015). However, the reforms of visa systems are in the process, including thorough investigations on the employers who maltreated the immigrants and the possibility of these employees shifting to other jobs with fair wages. However, illegal immigrants subjected to human trafficking have not yet seen any justice.
Also, in Mexico, her government does not fully meet the level of eradicating human trafficking but developing plans to do so. The government has started investigations and persecution of human traffickers (Correa-Cabrera & Montandon, 2018). Identifying more suspects in Mexico, the research points out many corrupt government officials, which was unbelievable in most parts of Mexico. Therefore, corruption in Mexico led to increased cases of human trafficking.
Case Studies
There are various specific cases involving human trafficking in South Florida and Mexico. First, in Florida, different specific cases have occurred that are relating to human trafficking. In 2020, two women from South Florida have been arrested for illegal human trafficking activities such as children and women's immigration for sex and forced labor. Kiara Nunez, aged 21, and Alexandra, aged 19, were arrested, found guilty, and judged by Human Trafficking Task Force. Both were accused of holding more than five positions in South Florida to sell two young girls around the Lake Worth area (Click Orlando, 2020). The federal criminal complaints explained that the victims reported that other teens were sold to unknown people and places to make money through sexual activities. The trafficked girl also said that the criminals had taken their nude photos for online selling. As a result, the judge ordered Ramirez held in detention while Nunez has placed on home detention for one hundred thousand dollars and technological monitoring.
In Mexico, an organized group of traffickers benefits from sex trafficking. They force immigrants to participate in illegal activities such as assassinations, production, transportation, and illicit drug distribution. There has also been a rise in women's disappearances, deaths, and trafficking for personal benefits to the traffickers. The NGOs' reports show that tourism of child sex remains strong as a severe issue that continues to expand significantly in northern border cities (Mexico, 2020). Therefore, human trafficking incidences are many and common in Both South Florida and Mexico.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, over the years, human trafficking is a huge issue worldwide. Human trafficking is viewed from a political perspective through cross-boarders and standard policies enacted to mitigate this issue. Various social and political factors have promoted the rise of this crime globally and, more specifically, in south Florida and Mexico. However, governments have put excellent efforts to fight the issue, such as providing equal rights to all genders and human rights of the trafficked together with the refugees. There is hope in the future that human immigration and trafficking must stop and allow all freedom to equal to everyone.
References
Cameron, S., & Newman, E. (Eds.). (2008). Trafficking in humans: social, cultural and political dimensions . United Nations University Press.
Charya, A., & Codina, M. R. B. (2012). Poverty and trafficking of indigenous women in Mexico: Some evidence from Chiapas State. Journal of Sustainable Society , 1 (3), 63-69.
Cicero-Dominquez, S. A. (2005). Assessing the US-Mexico fight against human trafficking and smuggling: Unintended results of US immigration policy. Nw. Univ. J. Int'l Hum. Rts. , 4 , 303. https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=njihr
Click Orlando. (2020). 2 South Florida women accused in sex-trafficking operation . https://www.clickorlando.com/news/florida/2020/08/28/2-south-florida-women-accused-in-sex-trafficking-operation/
Correa-Cabrera, G. & Montandon, A. S. (2018). Reforming Mexico’s Anti-trafficking in persons legislation. Mexican Law Review, 11 (1). https://doi.org/10.22201/iij.24485306e.2018.1.12509
Dyer, K., Dickey, N., Smith, S., & Helmy, H. (2012). Human trafficking in Florida: The role of applied anthropology in addressing the problem and response. Practicing Anthropology , 34 (4), 24-28.
Gramegna, M. (2008). Human Trafficking. The politics of Human Trafficking. St Anthony’s International Review , 4 (1), 63-65. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26225806?seq=1
Reid, J. A., Baglivio, M. T., Piquero, A. R., Greenwald, M. A., & Epps, N. (2017). Human trafficking of minors and childhood adversity in Florida. American Journal of Public Health , 107 (2), 306-311.
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). (2008). Migrant tomato workers face chronic abuses. https://www.splcenter.org/news/2008/04/15/migrant-tomato-workers-face-chronic-abuses
Still, A. (2017). Solving Human Trafficking Between Mexico and the United States. Pepperdine Policy Review, 9 (4). https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/ppr/vol9/iss1/4
U. S. Department of State. (2020). 2020 Trafficking in Persons Reports: Mexico . https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-trafficking-in-persons-report/mexico/
US Department of State. (2001) Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000. Trafficking in Persons Report. http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/usdocs/traffickingreport-2001.html
Weatherburn, A. (2015). The Effects of Political and Social-economic Factors on Human Trafficking. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284725360_The_effects_of_political_and_socio-economic_factors_on_human_trafficking
Winebrenner, C. (2015). Human Trafficking and Smuggling in Tampa Bay, Florida: Processes, Policies and Procedures. McNair Scholars Research Journal , 2(5). https://commons.erau.edu/mcnair/vol2/iss1/5
