National Human Trafficking Hotline data shows Texas has reported the second-highest number of human trafficking crimes across the nation in 2018, with 1,000 cases reported throughout the year.
The number of Texas trafficking cases escalated from 811 in 2017, and is only second to California with 1,656 last year. Florida ranks third with 767.
North Texas Daily’s Natalie Taylor published an editorial, educating readers on numerous incidents of Texas university students becoming victims of human trafficking on and off campus, advising all to stay alert at all times.
“I’m not telling you to panic at every person that tries to talk to you in public, nor am I telling you that every date on Tinder is looking to traffic you,” Taylor said in her commentary. “Instead, it’s all about being aware of your environment and surroundings.”
The editorial included common signs of human trafficking on an individual from The Polaris Project. These include a person not being paid directly for services or being paid very little, experiencing physical or verbal abuse from supervisors and high security measures in the workplace. The Polaris Project is a U.S. anti-trafficking organization responsible for handling more than 51,000 cases via its National Human Trafficking Hotline.
Taylor also stressed that everyone should educate themselves on human trafficking activity and assist in prevention by monitoring “red flags” in social situations and become involved in anti-human trafficking organizations.
The Global Slavery Index states that as of 2016, there were 40.8 million human trafficking slaves worldwide.
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