Scott Burch
Founder & Content Director
Why Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts Struggle for Support
In our last post, we talked about something that often gets overlooked. That not everyone receives the training they need to recognize and respond to human trafficking. It’s a gap that’s hurting people every day. Because trafficking doesn’t wait. It doesn’t take breaks. It thrives in silence and confusion.
Today, we need to talk about a deeper issue. A painful one. What happens when the system that’s supposed to help ends up making things worse?
Let’s talk about what it looks like when politics get in the way of progress.
Bigger Isn't Always Better In Texas
States like Texas and Florida are seeing increases in both labor and sex trafficking. These aren’t just numbers on a chart. These are kids, women, men, and entire families being exploited.
In 2023, Texas reported over 900 human trafficking cases. That included nearly 1,700 victims. But those are only the ones reported. Researchers believe the real number is far higher. It’s estimated that there are more than 234,000 people experiencing labor trafficking in Texas alone. Over 79,000 of those victims are minors.
That should shake us. That should move us to action. But somehow, it keeps getting pushed aside.
The Sunshine State Cast Shadows
Florida isn’t far behind. The state reported nearly 2,100 trafficking cases last year. Most of those involved children. The stories are heartbreaking. Young girls being sold online by someone they trusted. Migrant workers being forced to live in unsafe housing, paid pennies for endless hours in the fields. People who have no one to turn to, no way out, and no voice in the system.
And just when you think help is finally reaching these communities, the rug gets pulled out.
Defunding Masked As Fraud
Earlier this year, more than 365 grants were frozen or canceled by the Department of Justice. These weren’t random projects. They were the lifelines for survivors. Programs that offered shelter to trafficked youth. Legal aid for those trying to escape abusive work conditions. Outreach teams going into communities to provide education and support.
All of it, suddenly gone. Canceled without warning.
The reason given was a new review process to prevent fraud. But here’s the truth: survivors are the ones paying the price. Staff were laid off. Safe houses closed their doors. Hotlines stopped ringing because there was no one left to answer.
And then there are the nonprofits that were doing the hard work for years. The Vera Institute of Justice was one of them. They received congressional funding to help immigrant victims of trafficking. But instead of support, they were flagged for extra scrutiny. Not because they did anything wrong. Just because they got federal funding.
That kind of targeting doesn’t protect the public. It silences the people trying to do the right thing.
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All of this is happening while the trafficking crisis grows. And the biggest danger of all? When human suffering gets wrapped up in political games. When stories of real people are turned into campaign talking points.
Trafficking is not a partisan issue. It’s not just a border issue. It’s not something that only happens in movies. It’s happening in apartment complexes, nail salons, hotels, factories, and neighborhoods across the country.
When politicians only bring it up to push fear or blame, the people who need help the most are forgotten. The children being trafficked by family members. The teens trapped in online exploitation. The workers locked into jobs they can’t leave without risking their lives.
These aren’t hypothetical scenarios. They’re real. And they’re happening more than we think.
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We Won't Stop
This is exactly why we created Through Their Eyes. Because we’re tired of waiting. Tired of asking for permission to care. Tired of the silence.
We're building this program to tell the truth. To show what trafficking really looks like, and to help people see the signs before it’s too late. We're talking to survivors. We're bringing in experts. We're sharing their stories that stay with you. Stories that make you think about what’s happening behind the doors you pass every day.
Even with all the barriers, we keep going. Because we believe that change doesn’t come from politics. It comes from people. It comes from someone deciding they won’t look away. From someone choosing to ask the hard questions. From someone believing that no one should have their life decided by someone else.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you. You’re part of this with us. And we need you. We need people who care. People who talk about this even when it’s not easy. People who understand that silence only helps traffickers.
This isn’t just about our program. It’s about the thousands of people still waiting for someone to see them.
Let’s make sure they don’t have to wait any longer.
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Sources and References
• Texas Human Trafficking Statistics – National Human Trafficking Hotline
• Florida Human Trafficking Statistics – MG Injury Firm
• DOJ Cancels Hundreds of Victim Support Grants – Reuters
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