In addition to the physical and mental horrors suffered by victims of human trafficking, these people may at additional risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. Human traffickers may also take advantage of the financial instability caused to some people by the pandemic in order to exploit new victims.

Human Trafficking Victims May Be at Increased Risk for COVID-19

Approximately 200,000 people across the U.S. are coerced or forced into sex trafficking every year. Of these people, many are young or underage. Others are vulnerable due to financial instability, past abuse, drug addiction, or other issues. Due to the illegality of human trafficking and forced sex work, the traffickers who exploit these victims often move frequently, taking their business from state to state in order to avoid detection and prosecution. Many sex trafficking victims report being held in hotels, motels, or Airbnbs during their time under the control of their trafficker.

This transient behavior makes it harder for law enforcement to locate victims, and makes it more difficult for victims to find help or escape their traffickers. During the current global COVID-19 pandemic, this frequent traveling may also put victims of sex trafficking at risk for contracting the contagious virus, as well as spreading it.

Due to their circumstances, victims forced into trafficking are unlikely to be afforded protective gear to prevent them from being infected with the virus. Many former victims of sex trafficking claim to have been sold by their trafficker to ten or more clients per day. Due to this high turnover, victims of trafficking may be likely to come into contact with someone who has been infected with the coronavirus, and may continue to spread the virus themselves.

Additionally, the pandemic may also be a catalyst that causes more people to become victims of human trafficking.

People who are financially affected due to the pandemic may be at risk of being trafficked or exploited. According to the Polaris Project, an organization aiming to prevent human trafficking, incidents of trafficking spike when natural disasters occur.

Disasters including floods, hurricanes, and pandemics may cause people to lose their jobs, leaving them without a way to pay their rent or feed their families. Human traffickers may prey on these people during this vulnerable time by offering them a job or a place to stay, before exploiting them.

Signs of Human Trafficking

As many human traffickers move their victims from state to state, these victims are often temporarily housed at or trafficked out of truck stops or hotels. In order to combat the exploitation of victims at these places, several organizations have launched educational campaigns for truck drivers and hotel employees regarding the realities of trafficking.

The organization Truckers Against Trafficking was formed in 2009, and offers training for truckers on how to recognize the signs of trafficking, as well as how to partner with law enforcement in order to report and prevent crimes.

Following several lawsuits filed by victims who claim that they were housed at hotels where employees failed to prevent them from being trafficked, many major hotel chains have announced that hotel employees will be required to undergo training programs to prepare them to identify potential instances of trafficking and report these signs to law enforcement.

Hotel employees may be able to help future human trafficking victims being housed in these establishments if they are trained on how to recognize and respond to potential signs of exploitation. Potential signs that someone may be a victim of trafficking include poor hygiene, dirty, inappropriate, or ill-fitting clothing, and bruises, scars, or other marks of abuse.

Other signs may include a man paying in cash for a room while a female guest stays in the room, requests for rooms near the exit, parking cars so that license plates are not visible, or an excessive number of guests visiting a solo woman.

A solo female appearing to not have access to her own identification or money may be another sign. Many former sex trafficking victims report that excessive requests for clean linens and towels, as well as refusing to allow housekeeping to enter the room may also be common signs of trafficking.

If you or a loved one is a victim of human trafficking, help may be available. Hiring a qualified attorney to review your case may be the first step towards pursuing justice, as well as compensation for your experiences, injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and other damages.

If you were a victim of sex trafficking and forced to work at a truck stop, hotel or motel, night club or other hotel venue, you may be eligible to move forward with a civil investigation against these businesses. This investigation involves a civil case, and is not a criminal case against you or your loved ones.

Top Class Actions is working with experienced human trafficking attorneys who will be informed and sensitive to your situation. Join the fight by filling out the short form on this page. 

Learn More