Explore the statistics and learn how this issue affects millions worldwide.
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that affects millions of people worldwide, including right here in Texas and Houston. Understanding the scope of this crisis is the first step toward ending it.
Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit individuals for labor or commercial sex. It can happen in any community, and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. At Elijah Rising, we believe awareness leads to action, and action leads to freedom.
Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises in the world. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), an estimated 27.6 million people are victims of human trafficking at any given time globally.
Human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, on Tribal land, and within U.S. territories. In 2023, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received over 30,000 substantive signals and identified nearly 10,000 potential cases involving nearly 17,000 victims.
Since its inception, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has identified 112,822 cases of human trafficking in the U.S., with 218,568 victims identified in those cases.
Houston is a major hub of sex trafficking in the United States. Houston’s proximity to the U.S-Mexico border makes it the halfway point for smuggling and trafficking operations. Interstate-10 connects Houston to major cities on the East and West Coast, including Miami and Los Angeles.
According to a landmark University of Texas at Austin study, there are an estimated 313,000 victims of human trafficking in Texas, including approximately 79,000 minors who are victims of sex trafficking.
Since its inception, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has identified 10,997 cases of human trafficking in Texas, with 24,876 victims identified in those cases.
Texas consistently ranks as one of the top states for human trafficking cases in the nation. In recent years, Texas has ranked second only to California in the number of trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
Key Texas Statistics (2024)
Houston is one of the largest human trafficking hubs in the United States. Several factors contribute to this troubling reality:
Between April and June 2024 alone, 274,838 advertisements for commercial sex were posted online in Texas, with Houston ranking among the top cities for ad volume.
Human trafficking does not discriminate. Victims come from every background, but certain populations are more vulnerable:
According to 2023 National Human Trafficking Hotline data, the most common traffickers are employers (43%), family members (26%), and intimate partners (22%). Most victims (65%) were recruited online.
Human trafficking is often called a “hidden crime” because victims rarely come forward on their own. Recognizing the warning signs can help identify victims and save lives:
According to a University of Texas at Austin study, there are an estimated 313,000 victims of human trafficking in Texas, including approximately 79,000 minors who are victims of sex trafficking. In 2024, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 2,418 signals from Texas and identified 10,997 total cases since its inception.
Yes, Houston is one of the largest human trafficking hubs in the United States. Its proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border, access to Interstate 10 connecting major coastal cities, status as a major port city, and large population all contribute to making Houston a target for traffickers.
The two main types of human trafficking are sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Sex trafficking involves forcing individuals into commercial sex acts through force, fraud, or coercion. Labor trafficking involves forcing individuals to work through similar means. Any commercial sex involving a minor is considered sex trafficking regardless of force, fraud, or coercion.
If you suspect human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, available 24/7 in more than 200 languages. You can also text “HELP” to 233733 (BEFREE) or submit a tip online. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Elijah Rising combats human trafficking through a comprehensive approach including prevention education, street outreach to women in Houston’s red-light districts, and long-term restoration programs that provide survivors with safe housing, counseling, job training, and ongoing support.
While anyone can become a victim, those at higher risk include runaway and homeless youth, children in foster care, LGBTQ+ youth, immigrants and refugees, individuals with a history of abuse or trauma, and those facing economic hardship. Research shows that 1 in 6 endangered runaways are likely victims of sex trafficking.
In fiscal year 2024, there were 2,087 human trafficking arrests made by law enforcement agencies across Texas. The Texas Attorney General’s Criminal Investigations Division also opened 1,732 human trafficking-related investigations during the same period.
Elijah Rising exists to end sex trafficking in Houston and beyond. Our comprehensive approach includes:
We educate communities, schools, and organizations about the realities of trafficking so they can recognize and prevent exploitation before it happens.
Through street outreach and prayer teams, we connect with women being sold in Houston’s red-light districts, offering hope and a way out.
Our long-term care programs provide survivors with safe housing, counseling, job training, and the support they need to heal and rebuild their lives.