Human trafficking is defined as using force, fraud, or coercion to exploit people into labor or sex. Victims of human trafficking are often lured of incredible opportunities in the US and end up being abused psychologically and physically. The International Labour Organization estimates that between 14,500 to 17,500 people annually (ILO, 2020). The problem is of great consequence to the US government and its citizens, given that most of these illegal immigrants are undocumented. This paper evaluates the humanitarian, social, and economic impacts of human trafficking in the US alongside the associated pros and cons.
Objectives
Who are the victims
Human trafficking affects people of all genders and ages. ACLU (2019) documents that the mean age of trafficking victims is 20. While women and children are the most vulnerable, men undergo the most exploitation in labor and wages. Seventy Percent of traffickers are sexual exploitation victims who are predominantly girls and women. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime research on trafficking shows that 25 % of the victims are men between 25 to 40 years. More than a third of the men’s victims are technically trained to provide labour. One-third of the detected victims of trafficking are usually children globally with more girls victims compared to boys. The major purpose of trafficking children across national and continent borders is to meet the demand for cheap labor.
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The President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF) has undertaken a series of programs to address the human trafficking issue. In its 2020 annual report, the task force has supercharged the enactment of laws curbing child labour and sexual offenses against trafficked persons. The efforts include signing Executive Order 13903 by former President Donald Trump to reform and strengthen the human trafficking policy (US Department of State, 2020). In addition, the United Nations Global initiative against Human Trafficking has created over 4000 partnerships with civil society and members of civil society to fight against human trafficking. The United States also has a specific hotline number to report any individuals in society who are victims of human trafficking. The International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour also works with NGOs to protect children from trafficking.
Pros
Economic impact
While this can be rationally contested, illegal labour contributes to between 6.5 and 11% of the local counties’ annual revenue (Sherman et al., 2019). They also contribute about USD 7 billion to social security. Though controversial, human trafficking is among the profitable businesses in the United States. It generates approximately 150$ billion every year. However, human trafficking negatively affects the countries from which these victims come from. Mostly, the developing countries are most affected as they lose their labour force in other countries. According to UNODS human trafficking hinders the economic development of a country in the long run. The country bears the cost of dedicating measures to prevent, rehabilitation cost of the existing victims, monetary compensation of the victims, and medical cost of the victims. This cost occurs to countries that have well-laid measures and policies to protect individuals from human trafficking.
It can be argued that human trafficking has provided labour for ‘dirty’ jobs that locals disregard as being too low paying or ranking. Some of these dirty and low-paying jobs include working as labourers on construction sites. Victims in this area work without protective gear despite the risk to fall from heights or get injured. They also work in farms while exposed to the sunlight and in fishing boats for long durations. Victims also engage in domestic work with low or no pay.
Cons
Promotes terrorism activity
Human trafficking is the backbone of organized crime. Trafficked individuals provide a conduit for terrorists to obtain entry or critical information within the US. In 2014, individuals gaining access into the US via human trafficking were responsible for USD 45 million in payments to the Islamic state due to information leaking, abductions ransom payments (Bigio, 2020). Human trafficking is a way to raise funds for terrorist purposes. The link between terrorism and human trafficking is also evident in the sale of Yazidi women and children in the open market for to act as suicide bombers and beggars.
A health risk
Trafficked women and children are at greater risk of contracting and spreading HIV/AIDs, among other sexually transmitted diseases. That significantly draws personal and governmental spending to health (IWPR, 2020). Sick individuals also reduce the population’s economic productivity. The health of victims of human trafficking deteriorates as a result of the living conditions. Their working conditions and mistreatment from their employers is the main reason for their health problems. Human trafficking victims often die as a result of inhuman living conditions. Those that survive and manage to go back to their home countries suffer from depression, anxiety, stress disorders and may end up abusing drugs.
Summary
Human trafficking poses a serious problem for the US. Given its proximity to security and economic stability, there is an urgent need for a more robust policy. The government also needs to promote awareness of the issue. The International Organization for Migration states that employment is the major cause for human trafficking. Destination countries' governments need to restrict the trafficking of people. Moreover, the countries in which the victims come from should strive to give job opportunities to their citizens and educate them on human trafficking so as they avoid leaving their countries for places they lack safety guarantees.
References
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “Human Trafficking: Modern Enslavement of Immigrant Women in The United States.” Retrieved https://www.aclu.org/other/human-trafficking-modern-enslavement-immigrant-women-united-states#
Bigio, J. (2010, January 31). “Human Trafficking Helps Terrorists Earn Money and Strategic Advantage.” Foreign Policy. Retrieved https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/01/31/human-trafficking-helps-terrorists-earn-money-and-strategic-advantage/
International Labour Organization. (2018, November). “Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.” Retrieved https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/lang--en/index.htm
Sherman, A., Trisi, D., Stone, C., & Gonzales, S. (2019, August). “Immigrants Contribute Greatly to U.S. Economy, Despite Administration’s “Public Charge” Rule Rationale." Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR). “ The Economic Drivers and Consequences of Sex Trafficking in the United States.” (2020, February). Retrieved https://iwpr.org/iwpr-publications/briefing-paper/the-economic-drivers-and-consequences-of-sex-trafficking-in-the-united-states/
The US Department of State. (October 2020). "2020 Report on U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons.” Retrieved https://www.state.gov/2020-report-on-u-s-government-efforts-to-combat-trafficking-in-persons/
