Human sex trafficking is increasingly recognized as a serious crisis across the United States. The National Human Trafficking Resources Center reports that over a decade, there were 17,819 documented cases of sex trafficking in the United States. However, these figures only reflect reported incidents, and the true extent of the problem is likely much larger.

Victims of sex trafficking come from diverse backgrounds and age groups, with many being young. They include immigrants who are deceived with false promises of employment in the U.S., as well as American citizens, often runaways, who are either abducted or lured into the illegal sex trade. 

Key risk factors for human trafficking include recent migration or relocation, substance abuse, disabilities, poverty, involvement with the child welfare system, and being a runaway or homeless youth. Traffickers often exploit these vulnerabilities to gain power and control over their victims.

Frequently, these individuals, particularly women and girls, are held against their will and transported to locations where they are coerced into performing sex acts for extended periods.