Human trafficking is on the rise in the U.S. and globally. Online exploitation, conflict-related displacement, and labor abuse across industries are rapidly fueling the increase in trafficking. Let’s take a look.
Biden’s Open Borders Fuel the Increase in U.S. Trafficking
Many experts and lawmakers argue that Biden-era border policies weakened enforcement and increased migrant vulnerability. Unaccompanied children are especially vulnerable, fueling the rise in human trafficking across the U.S.
- Unaccompanied minors are primary victims of trafficking. Between January 2021 and February 2022, federal agencies placed nearly 150,000 unaccompanied children with sponsors in the U.S.; however, they often failed to conduct proper—or any—vetting during this process.
- Biden’s Health and Human Services (HHS) lost track of ~320,000 unaccompanied minors. As a result of weak vetting procedures, officials released many children to unvetted sponsors, which left them vulnerable to trafficking, exploitation, and abuse. In 2025, under the Trump administration, federal teams located and recovered over 22,000 missing migrant children.
- Part of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (section 235 of the TPVRA), guaranteed release of minors from non-contiguous countries, incentivizing traffickers to send children across the border. Section 235 was included to protect unaccompanied alien children (UACs) from being trafficked or returned to dangerous conditions. It establishes safeguards for screening, custody, and repatriation to ensure these minors are treated as potential victims—not just as unauthorized migrants. The drug cartels took advantage of this to traffic women and children.
- In Tennessee alone, authorities logged 514 reports of minor sex trafficking in 2024; notably, this figure more than doubled the number of adult cases, highlighting a troubling shift in victim demographics.
Global Impact of Human Trafficking
Human trafficking has a devastating global impact—economically, socially, and morally. It affects over 27 million people through forced labor and sexual exploitation, destabilizing communities and fueling organized crime:
- 27.6 million people are currently exploited through force, fraud, or coercion worldwide.
- Women and girls make up 60% of detected victims, with children now representing 38% of all cases.
- Trafficking networks often overlap with drug cartels, cybercrime rings, and smuggling operations, destabilizing regions and corrupting law enforcement.
- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) links irregular status, debt, and social isolation to sharply higher trafficking risk.
- Organizations like Our Rescue and Talitha Kum are launching global surge operations and survivor forums to dismantle trafficking networks.
Human trafficking is not just a criminal issue—it’s a test of global stewardship, justice, and compassion. It demands coordinated action across governments, industries, and faith communities to protect the vulnerable and dismantle exploitation.
The Catholic View
Human trafficking is the polar opposite of Catholic Social Teaching. Jesus spoke clearly and compassionately about taking care of the vulnerable, especially the exploitation of the poor and the marginalized. He always called for justice, restoration, and above all, a radical love for each other:
Luke 11:42 – “Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others.”
Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind,”
Trafficking, by treating people as commodities, directly violates the principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST). In response, the Church affirms that every person—especially those who are exploited—is made in the image of God. Therefore, we are called to protect the vulnerable, confront injustice, and restore human dignity.
Remember our charge in Matthew 25:40: “And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'”
How Can We Identify Potential Victims?
We can identify potential trafficking victims by recognizing physical, emotional, and behavioral warning signs. These are especially important when individuals appear controlled, fearful, or unable to speak for themselves. These indicators often surface in healthcare settings, workplaces, schools, and places of worship:
- There are signs that someone is controlling them, e.g., someone else speaking for them, holding their ID, or restricting their movement.
- Develop general feelings of helplessness, shame, guilt, self-blame, and humiliation; Suffer from shock and denial, or display symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, panic attacks, anxiety, and depression.
- Signs of physical abuse, such as bruises, broken bones, burns, and scarring; Chronic back, visual, or hearing problems from work in agriculture, construction, or manufacturing; Skin or respiratory problems caused by exposure to agricultural or other chemicals.
If you believe someone is being trafficked or are unsure but concerned, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at:
1-888-373-7888
You can also text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733 (BEFREE). If you think someone is in danger, please call 911 right away.
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Peace
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