Impact on the American Economy

Human trafficking is the third-highest illegal-income source in America today behind drug dealing and gunrunning. Tragically, unlike drugs and guns, humans can be sold and resold, exploited and reused.  The problem came to the attention of politicians and authorities and the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 was passed in July of 2000. Tragically, up until seven years ago, there were no laws providing adequate assistance or legal protection for immigrant women and children who were forced into the sex slave industry. This was one of the first laws protecting the interests of trafficked humans. Since 2000, nearly half a dozen other laws and acts have been passed to protect the interests of victims and punish perpetrators.

(ibid 15)

Even though laws have gotten stricter, the demand for sex in the United States has not decreased and, in many non-Western countries, the impoverished conditions have worsened. Yet, over $7 billion dollars is spent each year by Americans to recieve illict acts from sex slaves and increasing the profit of human traffickers. (16)

 

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