Yes, it can and does happen here. Human trafficking occurs in many places, including East Texas. 

That’s the message Dr. Evan Dolive, executive director of the Greater Longview United Way, made clear in a virtual information session it co-hosted with the United Way Center to Combat Human Trafficking on Dec. 8. The program showed a map listing “hot spots” for human trafficking in the region.

“Known cases of human trafficking show that it is happening here in East Texas,” Dolive told Lone Star Standard. “Trafficking can be physically moving people from place to place against their will, or it could be forced labor and manipulation from a family member or authority figure. We can no longer believe that human trafficking is something only in metropolitan areas or something only in other countries.”

Dr. Evan Dolive of Greater Longview United Way. | Greater Longview United Way

Trafficking occurs along Interstate Highway 20, which winds its way through East Texas. That’s one reason the Greater Longview United Way chose to hold the presentation in hopes it will have a meaningful impact.

“Anytime you shine light on a problem in our community, state, nation, and world you are raising awareness which is the key to change and action,” Dolive said. “The more we learn about human trafficking — on both a global and local scale — the more aware we will be.”

While human trafficking at the U.S.-Mexico border was discussed, Dolive said there are other problem areas as well.

“I can't speak to the current border situation,” he said. “The presenters at the live learning session stated that trafficking happens on all borders, not just the southern one.”

Ordinary people can join the battle to reduce human trafficking, Dolive said, and he offered numerous ways to offer assistance.

“Be aware that it is happening and fight for survivors’ rights from legislatures,” he said. “Contact local law enforcement to learn about their dealing with human trafficking. Provide mentorships for youth who are at risk. Be more involved in your community. Learn more about human trafficking at https://humantraffickinghotline.org/.”

During the program facilitator Aja Houle presented data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline that reported that Texas, Florida, New York and California are states with major human trafficking challenges, adding that “sex and labor trafficking are extremely under-reported.”

Houle is herself a survivor of human trafficking.

“On her journey she came to realize the importance of spreading awareness about combating trafficking,” an online biography at Child and Family Policy Institute of California states. “She also came to acknowledge how valuable survivor empowerment is and its extraordinary capability to spread throughout communities. Public affairs has become an area of focus in her life, because trafficking policies do not currently reflect fair & just policy that survivors deserve.”

According to a 2016 report from the University of Texas at Austin, there are 78,996 minor and youth victims of human trafficking, and 234,457 victims of labor trafficking in Texas at any given time, totaling 313,453 victims of human trafficking.

“Human trafficking involves the use of force fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act,” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “Every year millions of men, women and children are trafficked worldwide, including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations.

“Language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement frequently keep victims from seeking help, making human trafficking a hidden crime," the department added. “Traffickers use force, fraud or coercion to lure their victims and force them into labor or commercial sexual exploitation. They look for people who are susceptible for a variety of reasons, including psychological or emotional vulnerability, economic hardship, lack of a social safety net, natural disasters, or political instability. The trauma caused by the traffickers can be so great that many may not identify themselves as victims or ask for help, even in highly public settings.”

Those interested in helping or learning more information can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888 or texting 233733.