MICHIGAN HUMAN TRAFFICKING LAWYERS

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that devastates lives. According to the U.S. Department of State, it is “the act of recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining a person for compelled labor or commercial sex acts through the use of force, fraud or coercion.” The National Human Trafficking Resource Center has received reports of trafficking in all 50 states, so no one is as far removed from it as they might suspect.

Crimes of human trafficking compel or coerce an individual into involuntary servitude, which has been illegal since the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibited slavery. Human traffickers are skilled at deception and exploitation of vulnerable populations. The U.S. government has prosecuted human trafficking crimes in many diverse places, from agricultural fields to suburban mansions, and escort services and strip clubs.

Common forms of human trafficking include:

• Sex Trafficking: This is one of the most common forms of human trafficking. Victims are forced into prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation. This can include brothels, street prostitution, pornography, and sex tourism. Victims are often subjected to physical and psychological abuse to keep them under control.
• Labor Trafficking: Victims are exploited through forced labor in various industries such as agriculture, construction, domestic work, and manufacturing. They may work under inhumane conditions with little or no pay, often threatened with violence or other forms of coercion to prevent them from escaping.
• Child Trafficking: Children are particularly vulnerable to trafficking. They may be trafficked for forced labor, sexual exploitation, or use in illegal activities such as drug trafficking or as child soldiers in conflict zones. Child trafficking also includes practices like illegal adoption and forced begging.
• Forced Marriage: Some victims, especially women and girls, are trafficked for the purpose of forced marriage. This can involve being sold or coerced into marriage, often resulting in situations of domestic servitude and sexual exploitation.
• Organ Trafficking: This involves the illegal trade of organs, where victims are coerced, deceived, or forced to give up their organs. The organs are then sold on the black market for transplants.
• Debt Bondage: Also known as bonded labor, this occurs when a person is forced to work to repay a debt under terms that are not clearly defined or are impossible to meet. The victim may be subjected to physical or psychological abuse, and the debt can often be passed down to the victim’s children.

In Michigan, survivors of human trafficking are entitled to a range of rights and protections designed to ensure their safety, recovery, and access to justice. These include immediate protection from traffickers, confidentiality to prevent retaliation, and legal assistance to navigate the complexities of their cases. 

Survivors can also seek compensation for financial losses and receive vital support services such as medical care, mental health counseling, and housing. Additionally, they have the right to participate in legal proceedings, including testifying against their traffickers and accessing victim advocacy services.