Salma Valadez
Staff Writer
The pandemic of human trafficking has plagued our nation for centuries. Unfortunately, the prominent issue of this modern-day form of slavery has gone neglected and left many of those most susceptible to falling victim to the human trafficking industry – the third largest international crime industry – uneducated on the reality of its commonness. Texas specifically ranks second in the nation for the most human trafficking activity, especially in the San Antonio areas.
A21 Freedom Chasers is an organization dedicated to abolishing the modern-day form of slavery commonly known as human trafficking. Cecilia Lopez, an active member of the organization’s branch in the San Antonio area, shared information regarding the status of the human trafficking industry in San Antonio.
“I have seen the problem of human trafficking increase, and the dynamics of recruiters change while I have led the A21 Freedom Chasers in 2015,” Lopez said.
The ploys used to lure potential victims into the human trafficking industry have evolved due to an increase in technology usage. While in-person tactics at locations such as malls, bus stops, and school walking routes still occur, a majority of traffickers now use various social media platforms to recruit both male and female victims.
“A young person may think they are speaking to someone close in age to them, who can relate to their feelings or need and even be romanced online. In reality, they are being lured. Traffickers are extremely patient when it comes to luring their victims because if they are successful in luring this young person, they know they will potentially gain over $6k a year from selling them for sexual favors.” Lopez said.
It is also important to remember that the stereotypical portrayal of victims locked up in chains represents only 5% of all human trafficking victims.
“This is why being aware of the red flags is so important.With that said, some victims are allowed to attend school and live at home, and are expected to show up for their pimp during certain hours of the day,” Lopez said.
Another reality that goes neglected is the fact that previously recruited adolescents involved in the industry are used to lure other children and teenagers.
“The victim is promised not to be sexually abused any longer if they can recruit another person,” Lopez said.
The city of San Antonio is a part of Trafficking Triangle, an area between Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio in which heavy human trafficking activity occurs.
“We do know that I10 has been named the most trafficked highway in the U.S. – which leads us to believe we don’t fall too far away from Houston, being that Houston and San Antonio share highway I10.What also makes that assumption grow is that San Antonio also has I35 that runs through it.” Lopez said.
The A21 Freedom Chasers Organization is one of many organizations in the San Antonio area that aims to abolish the modern-day form of slavery known as human trafficking. One of the ways A21 Freedom Chasers achieves this goal is through educating the public, both adults and children, on the human trafficking industry.
“We offer a course for high school students, and adults, called Bodies are Not Commodities that walks through the issue of human trafficking at a global level,” Lopez said.
The organization also offers ways for youth to get involved and spread awareness to help bring an end to human trafficking.
“We spread awareness by hosting the global Walk for Freedom in San Antonio, and we use the power of social media to shed light on what human trafficking is and make reference to any news around it,” Lopez said.