| Who is Trafficked in the United States? From Where? |
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Trafficking victims may be enter the country legally, illegally, or be U.S. citizens. Most of the estimated 14,500-17,500 people trafficked into the United States each year are from Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. In Fiscal Year 2007, the five principal origin countries of trafficking victims who were certified by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were Thailand, Mexico, Guatemala, Philippines and China. Of the 303 certified victims of human trafficking in the United States in Fiscal Year 2007, 30% were male (compared to 6% in Fiscal Year 2006). In addition to the 14,500-17,500 people trafficked into the United States, Shared Hope International, estimates that 100,000 U.S. children are being exploited by the commercial sex industry.The Barnaba Institute reports that an estimated 200,000 U.S. citizens (primarily children and young women) face a high risk of being trafficked within the United States for sexual purposes. |