Letter: Human trafficking affects every community, including South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Human trafficking affects every community in the United States, including South Lake Tahoe. The United States recognizes two primary forms of trafficking in persons:  forced labor and sex trafficking. Traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to lure child and adult victims in and are careful and strategic to gain their victim's trust and create a form of dependence. Trafficking victims commonly experience abuse, including physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, food and sleep deprivation, threats to themselves and their family members, and isolation from the outside world.

There are an estimated 100,000 victims of human trafficking in the United States (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2016). We know there’s a large number of cases that go unreported every year.

So where does sex trafficking occur? Sex trafficking can take place in private homes, hotels/motels, and massage parlors, among other locations, as well as on the internet. Victims are often lured by false promises of decent jobs and a better life.

The average age of someone being trafficked is 14 years old.

Human trafficking is a crime that is hidden in plain sight and is only visible to those who know the signs and indicators. Many times, a sex trafficking situation can look like a domestic violence situation. There are also many myths regarding trafficking which is why educating ourselves is critical. Many believe traffickers are usually a stranger to the victim when that’s the most uncommon situation. In 2020, 42 percent of trafficking victims were brought into trafficking by a member of their own families and 39% were recruited via an intimate partner or a marriage proposition.

Tahoe Youth and Family Services wants to inspire the community to get involved by providing awareness and education in the community about risks that can make someone vulnerable to trafficking, how traffickers lure and exploit victims, signs and indicators of human trafficking, ways to protect yourself and others is how we can all play an integral role in ending human trafficking. Together we can curtail Human Trafficking.

Tahoe Youth & Family Services is excited to announce a new addition to our team, Jaycee Macias, Human Trafficking Educator. She will be providing education and awareness on human trafficking to the community of South Lake Tahoe.

For more information on Human Trafficking or to learn how you can volunteer, email: jmacias@tahoeyouth.org.