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Joseph Rezabala

Professor Boutin

English 1201

8 November 2023

Human Trafficking in California

Human trafficking is also known as modern slavery in today's society. This trafficking is also

known as a crime that involves compelling or forcing a person to provide labor services or to do

sex acts. There are many types of force, such as subtle or overt, physical or psychological, and

some involve violence, threats, lies, or debt bondage. In every region of the world, men, women,

and children of all ages can become victims of this crime. Victims are often tricked and forced

by traffickers who use violence and fraudulent employment agencies, making California the

number one of trafficking.

Human trafficking has been going on for a long time for as long as humans have existed

in this world. Human trafficking has been going on since the early 1800s, and throughout World

War I, women were the first people being trafficked in the United States for sexual exploitation.

In the article, capradio the author wrote "Slavery is no longer legal anywhere in the world, but

human trafficking still occurs in every country" (Becky Giovagnoni). People are being trafficked

around the world, including the United States. Human trafficking is commonly known as a crime

of slavery. The problem has become widespread over time, but is often hidden from public

awareness.
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Throughout the years since human trafficking started, California has been placed at the

top in most cases because of its state's features and demographics. California was affected a lot

by this because it has significant international airports and seaports, which allows accessible

transportation routes for traffickers to smuggle in foreign victims. Also, undocumented workers

may face forced labor as part of California's large agricultural industry. Traffickers exploit their

fears about deportation. In the article, Rob Bonta the author wrote, "California, a populous

border state with a significant immigrant population and the world's fifth largest economy, is one

of the nation's top destination states for trafficking human beings" (Attorney General). Because

of this, it is increasing California's number rates on how many people are coming in and getting

trafficked because of their age, religion, skin color, or immigrant.

When it comes to human trafficking, there is not a specific group that traffickers force on,

but it is scattered around. Some of the groups that are being targeted the most are women and

children, undocumented immigrants, homeless, and low-wage service workers. In the article,

“AC Transit Joins Transportation Leaders Nationwide to "Put the Brakes on Human Trafficking”

the author wrote, "The victims of human trafficking are often young girls and women. Young

girls and women are 57.6% of forced labor victims and 99.4% of sex trafficking victims"

(Attorney General). Most human traffickers target women and girls because of the lack of access

to education, limited employment opportunities, and insufficient financial resources. However,

with all the causes and consequences of the problems, people and the government still have an

issue resolving.

As long as industries like agriculture and organized crime rings continue to fuel demand

and profits for trafficked labor and sex work, California has a problem with human trafficking. It
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is a problem because vulnerable populations like immigrants and runaway youth remain easy

targets for exploitation. It is common for traffickers to coerce victims into enduring trauma and

abuse with little support or justice being provided. In “SB 1042 Human Trafficking – Serious

and Violent Felony” the author wrote, "Human trafficking victims often suffer long-term

physical and psychological trauma" (Senate District 16). This problem affects not only the

individual victims but also their families, communities, and entire nations.

With these problems going on, human trafficking is going out of control in California;

Governor Newsome stepped in. With this, Governor Newsom has signed several bills to

reinforce protections for victims of human trafficking. In the article, “Governor Newsom Signs

Law Cracking Down on Sex Trafficking of Minors” the author wrote “Governor Gavin Newsom,

joined by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, State Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield),

State Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced), and survivors and advocates, today signed SB 14

(Grove) into law to steepen penalties for human trafficking of minors in California" (Office of

Governor). This new bill that Governor Newsome signed will designate purposes of a human

trafficking act as a serious felony within the three strict laws and also impose harsher penalties.

This new bill that Newsome signed started getting some hate and was eventually voted down in

the assembly's public safety committee.

Senate Bill 14 came with much positivity, with everyone, even the governor, thinking it

would help and change how human trafficking would be handled. However, not long after he

signed the bill, the California democrats reversed this course after killing the bill on the spot

because of the penalties. In "Los Angeles Times," Hannah Wiley wrote “Senate Bill 14, which

would add human trafficking of a minor for sex to the list of "serious felonies" under California's
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penal code, was sailing through the Legislature with bipartisan support all year until Democrats

on the Assembly Public Safety Committee struck it down Tuesday amid concerns that it would

penalize victims and worsen incarceration rates”. The Democrats are saying they are bringing

down the bill because it will over-criminalize, have disproportionate impacts, and drain public

resources plus with the lack of evidence, it will work.

When it comes to solving human trafficking or any other trafficking, it will come with a

big challenge because this problem is not only being caused in California but globally. As

previously mentioned, trafficking often takes place across borders. The international nature of

the crime makes it harder to prosecute and leads to further complications. Due to the complex

nature of this crime, most of the traffickers operate under the radar, and from that, traffickers will

not be identified as victims. In "ICE," ICE stated "In other cases, victims live in plain sight and

interact with people daily. Yet, they experience commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor

under extreme circumstances in public settings such as exotic dance clubs, factories, or

restaurants. They are not identified due to insufficient identification training and awareness"

(ICE). Human trafficking and any other trackers are hard to get because no one will ever know.

It can be a surprise.

The newspaper and the governor are trying their hardest to come up with a solution for

human trafficking but failed in the end for multiple reasons. All of their solutions were unable to

address all factors contributing to California's human trafficking problem or lacked components

to sustain positive outcomes. From this, California should establish a new California human

trafficking committee composed of survivors, police, scientists, and community leaders. This

allows better ideas and oversight. A 5-year state funding commitment would allow the
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committee time to develop comprehensive data-driven plans and assist victims. The plans would

focus on preventing people from becoming trafficking victims in the first place through

education and poverty reduction, not just prisons. In "Los Angeles Times," Hannah Wiley stated,

"This coordinated response led by a new accountability team would research every county to

understand local needs, develop specialized pilots, empower survivors to lead reforms, and make

policy last with definitive mandates and budgets not changing every election" (Hannah Wiley).

By this, it is stated that there should be a solid plan that does not change everything, and one that

everyone can abide by.

With every plan, the governor, any organization, or a citizen that will potently solve the

problems with human trafficking will be put to an end. First, the group that will not agree with

the plan is the Democrats because they believe and think it will be a complete waste of time and

money. In “Times” democrats stated, "Nobody supports the trafficking of children or any people.

That is why existing laws carry the potential for life in prison. We can and must do more to

affirm, protect, and support survivors with all of our civic resources, including those beyond the

criminal legal system" (Democrats). This shows that these groups do not want to help, putting

their time and money in, like how traffickers will feel about this plan. Some of the business

industries will also suffer with this plan if it fully works out; some businesses and industries that

rely on migrant labor will see this plan as threatening their access to cheap and flexible labor.

However, the only people and groups that will ultimately support this plan are going to be the

victims of trafficking and groups that are trying to help solve this battle once and for all.

The plan will work through people and states, and they agree with us to stop human

trafficking. The state of California will host a national summit where the state leaders will
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explain the new human trafficking laws and programs. Then, invite dozens of state legislators

and support groups. The California model will be presented to hundreds of prosecutors,

governors, and legislators at large annual meetings nationwide. Our victim support teams and

investigator teams will work on an eye-catching documentary that shows real cases. Every state

will get a copy. In “Calmatters”, Lynna LA stated, "After the fiery floor debate, the committee

hearing was anti-climatic, except for the applause and whoops at the end" (Lynna LA). By this, it

shows how states share information by gathering it in a room and debating about things from

each state.

Overall, human trafficking is becoming a huge problem all over the world, especially in

California. Human trafficking has exploited vulnerable people and destroyed the lives of families

and communities. Despite the fact that human trafficking is a complex thing to deal with right

now with how long it's been going on for. Also, it has been hard for Glover Newsmen to address

these problems and having no good solutions. There’s also not a lot of information in order to

capture or find who's really involved in the human trafficking and hurting these people. Because

of not having the necessary information, solutions keep getting turned down by the democrats.

Regardless of past setbacks, California can still have the opportunity to solve this human rights

crisis and create a better future for all.

WORK-CITED

“California Democrats Reverse Course after Killing Bill to Stiffen Penalties for Child Sex

Trafficking.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2023,

www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-07-13/california-democrats-reverse-course-after-

killing-bill-to-stiffen-penalties-for-child-sex-trafficking.

“California Democrats Reverse Course after Killing Bill to Stiffen Penalties for Child Sex

Trafficking.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2023,

www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-07-13/california-democrats-reverse-course-after-

killing-bill-to-stiffen-penalties-for-child-sex-trafficking.

California, State of. “California Cracks down on Sex Trafficking of Minors.” California

Governor, 26 Sept. 2023, www.gov.ca.gov/2023/09/25/sb-14/#:~:text=Governor

%20Newsom%20has%20signed%20multiple,and%20considering%20trauma%20in

%20sentencing.

Goff, Preston. “The Story of Blue.” The Exodus Road, 7 Feb. 2022, theexodusroad.com/the-

story-of-blue/.

“Human Trafficking.” ICE, www.ice.gov/features/human-trafficking#:~:text=Due%20to%20the

%20complex%20nature,victims%20rarely%20report%20their%20situation. Accessed 8

Dec. 2023.

Nixon, Nicole. “Why California Assembly Democrats Blocked a Child Trafficking Bill - and

Why They Reversed Course.” CapRadio, www.capradio.org/articles/2023/07/13/why-

california-assembly-democrats-blocked-a-child-trafficking-bill-and-why-they-reversed-

course/. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

SB 1042 Human Trafficking – Serious and Violent Felony,

www.countyofmerced.com/DocumentCenter/View/29006/Human-Trafficking-Fact-Sheet-

SB-1042. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

“Senator Grove’s Bill to Fight Human Trafficking Is Voted down in the Assembly Public Safety

Committee.” Senator Shannon Grove, sr12.senate.ca.gov/content/senator-groves-bill-fight-

human-trafficking-voted-down-assembly-public-safety-committee#:~:text=SB

%2014%20was%20voted%20down,measure%20was%20also%20granted

%20reconsideration. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.