Human trafficking, often referred to as modern-day slavery, remains an issue in the United States, with over 18,000 active cases looming.

“This is, unfortunately, a multi-billion-dollar business,” said Gina Gueno Ramos, co-founder of Casa Esperanza para Mujeres y Niños (translated for women and children) at a panel discussion that Mercy University hosted in Dobbs Ferry on Jan. 31.

According to  U.S. national statistics, more than 100,000 victims of human trafficking have been identified. As noted by the United Nations, it is considered a highly profitable industry, generating over $150 billion annually.

That report suggest that the U.N. has identified human trafficking as one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises globally, rivaling drug and arms trafficking in profitability.

The panel was led by Dr. Lucia Alfano, Director of Clinical Affairs for the School of Nursing, and featured a group of experts including Ramos; Dr. Carol Bennett-Speight, Professor and Program Director of the Traditional Nursing Program at Mercy; Lisa Gerstmann-Boyle, Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner at Westchester Medical University Hospital; and Konrad Motyka, Executive Director of Campus Safety at Mercy.

Ramos shared with the audience a harsh truth:

She explained that human trafficking knows no boundaries victims can come from any background, race, or socio-economic status. One of the key factors in trafficking, she emphasized, is how the media often portray a glamorous lifestyle that can trap young people, making them easy targets for traffickers.

“Children see this grandiose lifestyle and fall exposed to it,” Ramos said, describing how traffickers prey on the desires of the young and vulnerable.

Ramos’ organization prides itself as a haven for those in need.

“Using donated space in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, we will offer assistance with emergency shelter to those women needing immediate assistance along with a six (8) week program that provides supportive and educational training to women impacted by domestic violence residing in shelters in Puerto Rico,” its website states.

The panelists discussed the emotional and psychological toll on victims. Bennett-Speight highlighted that some victims are trafficked by people they trust, such as family members or romantic partners.

“Some are trafficked by their loved ones and silenced by the fear of breaking up their home lives,” she explained.

Ramos shared her own experience in trying to help victims.

“Husbands often got aggressive when I tried to see their wives alone,” she recalled. “At times, I had to call the police.”

This behavior is part of what Gerstmann-Boyle referred to as a “trauma bond” –  the emotional attachment that keeps victims tied to their abusers.

“It’s not easy to leave,” Gerstmann-Boyle said. “There’s this fear of destabilizing their lives. People become desensitized to the trauma they experience.”

While trafficking is often perceived as an international issue, data show that it is deeply rooted within the United States. The National Human Trafficking Hotline has identified 112,822 cases involving more than 218,568 victims since its launch in 2007, and in 2024 alone reported 11,999 new cases with 21,865 potential victims.  Although these numbers represent only reported cases, trafficking has been documented in every U.S. state, indicating that exploitation is widespread across urban, suburban, and rural areas.  Research suggests that over 1 million people in the U.S. may be living in conditions consistent with modern slavery, underscoring how many victims go uncounted. Economically, forced labor and human trafficking generate enormous illicit profits, with recent estimates placing annual global profits at roughly $236 billion, driven by exploitation across commercial sex, labor, and other forms of servitude.

Young people remain among the most vulnerable, as reports published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicate that victims are frequently recruited through social media, false job offers, or personal relationships, all often before they fully understand what is happening. The average age of entry into sex trafficking in the United States is estimated to be in the mid-teens, underscoring how early exploitation can begin.

The panel also touched on the role of communities in either helping or hindering efforts to stop trafficking. Many trafficking cases are covered up, especially in certain religious communities, where victims are often afraid to speak out. Close tight communities tend to conceal what they deem an internal issue to avoid public scandal.

In New York, a document from the 2023 State Assembly stated that there were over 400 cases of human trafficking in the state. Roughly 73 percent were sex trafficking cases, 22 percent were labor cases, and the remainder were both. 

Ramos, who has witnessed the reality of trafficking firsthand, shared her encounter with organ trafficking during her time living in the Philippines. I saw people who woke up and had a kidney missing,” she recalled shedding some light on another side of trafficking that goes unnoticed.

“It’s happening, and people are not aware of it.”

As law enforcement and advocates work to fight against trafficking, perpetrators of these crimes are also advancing. Most perpetrators tend to have clean records and no prior criminal activity, with 71% of the defendants charged with human trafficking having no previous convictions, according to bjs.ojp.gov .

“As technology evolves, the bad guys evolve with it,” Motyka warned, pointing out how platforms like Airbnb are increasingly used to move victims without raising suspicion. The 3P paradigm prosecution, prevention, and protection is important in addressing these tactics, as highlighted by state.gov, to combat trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals.

Bennett-Speight’s ended the panel, making it clear: “Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights.” 

To help combat trafficking on campus, Mercy University offers an anonymous reporting system called Care Referral, which allows students to report any concerns or suspicions related to trafficking or abuse in an anonymous manner. Additionally, those in need of support or wishing to report trafficking incidents contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888.