No Fair Trade for Trafficked Women

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Kavita N. Ramdas

This week marks the premiere of “TRADE” in local theaters, a powerful new film about the underworld of sex trafficking. (See trailer) The movie is inspired by a 2004 New York Times Magazine cover story by journalist Peter Landesman and shares with it the revelation that human trafficking exists right here in our own backyards. The release of the film also testifies to the success that the women’s movement has had in its sustained efforts over 10 years to bring an end to the traffic in human beings, partly by drawing much needed media attention to this hidden human rights violation.

In the film, a 13-year-old girl from Mexico City is kidnapped by sex traffickers, smuggled across the Rio Grande border and held prisoner in a “stash house” in New Jersey on a street that looks just like thousands of other streets in suburban USA. The girl represents one of an estimated 18,000 -- 20,000 people who are brought to the United States and used for forced labor or sex, according to State Department figures.

Many of them end up in my home state, California; in fact, San Francisco is one of the biggest receiving ports for human cargo shipped in from Asia. Earlier this month, six people were indicted for running a trafficking ring in Los Angeles that lured young women from Guatemala with the promise of good jobs. Once they crossed the border, the women were forced into prostitution to pay off smuggling debts.

Today, human trafficking is approximately a $31.6 billion global industry, making it the third most lucrative criminal activity in the world after illegal drugs and black-market guns. Worldwide, the United Nations estimates that one to four million people are trafficked each year, the majority from Thailand, Mexico and Russia.

Here in the U.S., 34 states have laws that specifically address human trafficking, which President Bush called “a special evil.” California led the way a few years ago by passing a comprehensive bill that makes human trafficking a felony and assists victims with social services to help rebuild their lives. Last May, New York State followed suit with similar legislation that cracks down on perpetrators.

http://alternet.org/module/printversion/63791

Edited September 29, 2007 by Mister Fancypants

[peejay 327]

Let's see Steven...from your past posts we should ignore illegal immigration because it's mean to enforce immigration laws, but now we need to crack down on trafficking in women?

As far as I'm concerned human trafficking, open borders agendas, and illegal immigration are all peas in the same pod. None of it should be tolerated, rewarded, or encouraged. Illegal aliens of all types should be subjected to arrest and deportation. Human smugglers should be arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated to the full extent of the law. Employers of illegal aliens should be prosecuted and punished.

You don't keep feeding the beast by rewarding the beast. Zero tolerance for illegal immigration.

[Jasman0717 9]

Let's see Steven...from your past posts we should ignore illegal immigration because it's mean to enforce immigration laws, but now we need to crack down on trafficking in women?

As far as I'm concerned human trafficking, open borders agendas, and illegal immigration are all peas in the same pod. None of it should be tolerated, rewarded, or encouraged. Illegal aliens of all types should be subjected to arrest and deportation. Human smugglers should be arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated to the full extent of the law. Employers of illegal aliens should be prosecuted and punished.

You don't keep feeding the beast by rewarding the beast. Zero tolerance for illegal immigration.

[KarenCee 3]

Let's see Steven...from your past posts we should ignore illegal immigration because it's mean to enforce immigration laws, but now we need to crack down on trafficking in women?

As far as I'm concerned human trafficking, open borders agendas, and illegal immigration are all peas in the same pod. None of it should be tolerated, rewarded, or encouraged. Illegal aliens of all types should be subjected to arrest and deportation. Human smugglers should be arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated to the full extent of the law. Employers of illegal aliens should be prosecuted and punished.

You don't keep feeding the beast by rewarding the beast. Zero tolerance for illegal immigration.

I agree...I am foncused as well

[peejay 327]

Let's see Steven...from your past posts we should ignore illegal immigration because it's mean to enforce immigration laws, but now we need to crack down on trafficking in women?

As far as I'm concerned human trafficking, open borders agendas, and illegal immigration are all peas in the same pod. None of it should be tolerated, rewarded, or encouraged. Illegal aliens of all types should be subjected to arrest and deportation. Human smugglers should be arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated to the full extent of the law. Employers of illegal aliens should be prosecuted and punished.

You don't keep feeding the beast by rewarding the beast. Zero tolerance for illegal immigration.

I agree...I am foncused as well

The point I was trying to make is that there are quite a lot of folks on VJ that defend illegal immigration as if it is just a minor violation of the law. Like it's no big deal. Human trafficking of all kinds is a major component in illegal immigration. These smuggling operations are major criminal enterprises run by sleazeballs. They are not nice people.

I'm just saying illegal alien amnesties and catering and pandering to illegal aliens just feeds more illegal immigration...including trafficking in women too. These women being trafficked are chosing to illegally immigrate, but it doesn't turn out like they thought it would.

As far as I'm concerned trafficking in women is the result of lax enforcement of all our other immigration laws. Sex slaves are being smuggled into the USA by the same people that smuggle in chicken pluckers and melon pickers. Trafficking in women is just another aspect of illegal immigration.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Let's see Steven...from your past posts we should ignore illegal immigration because it's mean to enforce immigration laws, but now we need to crack down on trafficking in women?

As far as I'm concerned human trafficking, open borders agendas, and illegal immigration are all peas in the same pod. None of it should be tolerated, rewarded, or encouraged. Illegal aliens of all types should be subjected to arrest and deportation. Human smugglers should be arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated to the full extent of the law. Employers of illegal aliens should be prosecuted and punished.

You don't keep feeding the beast by rewarding the beast. Zero tolerance for illegal immigration.

I agree...I am foncused as well

The point I was trying to make is that there are quite a lot of folks on VJ that defend illegal immigration as if it is just a minor violation of the law. Like it's no big deal. Human trafficking of all kinds is a major component in illegal immigration. These smuggling operations are major criminal enterprises run by sleazeballs. They are not nice people.

I'm just saying illegal alien amnesties and catering and pandering to illegal aliens just feeds more illegal immigration...including trafficking in women too. These women being trafficked are chosing to illegally immigrate, but it doesn't turn out like they thought it would.

As far as I'm concerned trafficking in women is the result of lax enforcement of all our other immigration laws. Sex slaves are being smuggled into the USA by the same people that smuggle in chicken pluckers and melon pickers. Trafficking in women is just another aspect of illegal immigration.

Peejay, to compare someone crossing the border and working here illegally to the illegal trafficking of women (and young girls) for sex is absurd. Bringing a 13 year old Mexican girl here against her will and forcing her into prostitution is disgusting and sick, and those who are involved should be thrown in prison and locked away for life. In the meantime, what do you suppose happens to all these girls and women after the prostitution rings are brought down? I'd say the very least should be to give them citizenship. They did nothing wrong other than being female and being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Showing no sympathy for them because they aren't legal citizens is shocking...shocking.

[Caladan 19]

You can make the argument both ways. They may be 'chosing' to immigrate illegally (and for you, does this mean we shouldn't care about them, or that they deserve to be raped?).

The women who are ending up being trafficked wouldn't be putting their trust in a smuggler if they had a reasonable chance at coming to work in the U.S. legally. (Heck the women using men for green cards wouldn't bother with an American fiance if they could get a work visa.)

[peejay 327]

Let's see Steven...from your past posts we should ignore illegal immigration because it's mean to enforce immigration laws, but now we need to crack down on trafficking in women?

As far as I'm concerned human trafficking, open borders agendas, and illegal immigration are all peas in the same pod. None of it should be tolerated, rewarded, or encouraged. Illegal aliens of all types should be subjected to arrest and deportation. Human smugglers should be arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated to the full extent of the law. Employers of illegal aliens should be prosecuted and punished.

You don't keep feeding the beast by rewarding the beast. Zero tolerance for illegal immigration.

I agree...I am foncused as well

The point I was trying to make is that there are quite a lot of folks on VJ that defend illegal immigration as if it is just a minor violation of the law. Like it's no big deal. Human trafficking of all kinds is a major component in illegal immigration. These smuggling operations are major criminal enterprises run by sleazeballs. They are not nice people.

I'm just saying illegal alien amnesties and catering and pandering to illegal aliens just feeds more illegal immigration...including trafficking in women too. These women being trafficked are chosing to illegally immigrate, but it doesn't turn out like they thought it would.

As far as I'm concerned trafficking in women is the result of lax enforcement of all our other immigration laws. Sex slaves are being smuggled into the USA by the same people that smuggle in chicken pluckers and melon pickers. Trafficking in women is just another aspect of illegal immigration.

Peejay, to compare someone crossing the border and working here illegally to the illegal trafficking of women (and young girls) for sex is absurd. Bringing a 13 year old Mexican girl here against her will and forcing her into prostitution is disgusting and sick, and those who are involved should be thrown in prison and locked away for life. In the meantime, what do you suppose happens to all these girls and women after the prostitution rings are brought down? I'd say the very least should be to give them citizenship. They did nothing wrong other than being female and being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Showing no sympathy for them because they aren't legal citizens is shocking...shocking.

These women are citizens of and the responsibility of their own governments. Being a crime victim is hardly grounds for US citizenship. That is totally ridiculous!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Let's see Steven...from your past posts we should ignore illegal immigration because it's mean to enforce immigration laws, but now we need to crack down on trafficking in women?

As far as I'm concerned human trafficking, open borders agendas, and illegal immigration are all peas in the same pod. None of it should be tolerated, rewarded, or encouraged. Illegal aliens of all types should be subjected to arrest and deportation. Human smugglers should be arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated to the full extent of the law. Employers of illegal aliens should be prosecuted and punished.

You don't keep feeding the beast by rewarding the beast. Zero tolerance for illegal immigration.

I agree...I am foncused as well

The point I was trying to make is that there are quite a lot of folks on VJ that defend illegal immigration as if it is just a minor violation of the law. Like it's no big deal. Human trafficking of all kinds is a major component in illegal immigration. These smuggling operations are major criminal enterprises run by sleazeballs. They are not nice people.

I'm just saying illegal alien amnesties and catering and pandering to illegal aliens just feeds more illegal immigration...including trafficking in women too. These women being trafficked are chosing to illegally immigrate, but it doesn't turn out like they thought it would.

As far as I'm concerned trafficking in women is the result of lax enforcement of all our other immigration laws. Sex slaves are being smuggled into the USA by the same people that smuggle in chicken pluckers and melon pickers. Trafficking in women is just another aspect of illegal immigration.

Peejay, to compare someone crossing the border and working here illegally to the illegal trafficking of women (and young girls) for sex is absurd. Bringing a 13 year old Mexican girl here against her will and forcing her into prostitution is disgusting and sick, and those who are involved should be thrown in prison and locked away for life. In the meantime, what do you suppose happens to all these girls and women after the prostitution rings are brought down? I'd say the very least should be to give them citizenship. They did nothing wrong other than being female and being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Showing no sympathy for them because they aren't legal citizens is shocking...shocking.

These women are citizens of and the responsibility of their own governments. Being a crime victim is hardly grounds for US citizenship. That is totally ridiculous!

Not our problem - of course. All the low lifes that have sex with them are ....what? American? Rrrrrright.

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

Let's see Steven...from your past posts we should ignore illegal immigration because it's mean to enforce immigration laws, but now we need to crack down on trafficking in women?

As far as I'm concerned human trafficking, open borders agendas, and illegal immigration are all peas in the same pod. None of it should be tolerated, rewarded, or encouraged. Illegal aliens of all types should be subjected to arrest and deportation. Human smugglers should be arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated to the full extent of the law. Employers of illegal aliens should be prosecuted and punished.

You don't keep feeding the beast by rewarding the beast. Zero tolerance for illegal immigration.

I agree...I am foncused as well

The point I was trying to make is that there are quite a lot of folks on VJ that defend illegal immigration as if it is just a minor violation of the law. Like it's no big deal. Human trafficking of all kinds is a major component in illegal immigration. These smuggling operations are major criminal enterprises run by sleazeballs. They are not nice people.

I'm just saying illegal alien amnesties and catering and pandering to illegal aliens just feeds more illegal immigration...including trafficking in women too. These women being trafficked are chosing to illegally immigrate, but it doesn't turn out like they thought it would.

As far as I'm concerned trafficking in women is the result of lax enforcement of all our other immigration laws. Sex slaves are being smuggled into the USA by the same people that smuggle in chicken pluckers and melon pickers. Trafficking in women is just another aspect of illegal immigration.

Peejay, to compare someone crossing the border and working here illegally to the illegal trafficking of women (and young girls) for sex is absurd. Bringing a 13 year old Mexican girl here against her will and forcing her into prostitution is disgusting and sick, and those who are involved should be thrown in prison and locked away for life. In the meantime, what do you suppose happens to all these girls and women after the prostitution rings are brought down? I'd say the very least should be to give them citizenship. They did nothing wrong other than being female and being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Showing no sympathy for them because they aren't legal citizens is shocking...shocking.

These women are citizens of and the responsibility of their own governments. Being a crime victim is hardly grounds for US citizenship. That is totally ridiculous!

Not our problem - of course. All the low lifes that have sex with them are ....what? American? Rrrrrright.

so that makes them american by injection?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Let's see Steven...from your past posts we should ignore illegal immigration because it's mean to enforce immigration laws, but now we need to crack down on trafficking in women?

As far as I'm concerned human trafficking, open borders agendas, and illegal immigration are all peas in the same pod. None of it should be tolerated, rewarded, or encouraged. Illegal aliens of all types should be subjected to arrest and deportation. Human smugglers should be arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated to the full extent of the law. Employers of illegal aliens should be prosecuted and punished.

You don't keep feeding the beast by rewarding the beast. Zero tolerance for illegal immigration.

I agree...I am foncused as well

The point I was trying to make is that there are quite a lot of folks on VJ that defend illegal immigration as if it is just a minor violation of the law. Like it's no big deal. Human trafficking of all kinds is a major component in illegal immigration. These smuggling operations are major criminal enterprises run by sleazeballs. They are not nice people.

I'm just saying illegal alien amnesties and catering and pandering to illegal aliens just feeds more illegal immigration...including trafficking in women too. These women being trafficked are chosing to illegally immigrate, but it doesn't turn out like they thought it would.

As far as I'm concerned trafficking in women is the result of lax enforcement of all our other immigration laws. Sex slaves are being smuggled into the USA by the same people that smuggle in chicken pluckers and melon pickers. Trafficking in women is just another aspect of illegal immigration.

Peejay, to compare someone crossing the border and working here illegally to the illegal trafficking of women (and young girls) for sex is absurd. Bringing a 13 year old Mexican girl here against her will and forcing her into prostitution is disgusting and sick, and those who are involved should be thrown in prison and locked away for life. In the meantime, what do you suppose happens to all these girls and women after the prostitution rings are brought down? I'd say the very least should be to give them citizenship. They did nothing wrong other than being female and being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Showing no sympathy for them because they aren't legal citizens is shocking...shocking.

These women are citizens of and the responsibility of their own governments. Being a crime victim is hardly grounds for US citizenship. That is totally ridiculous!

Not our problem - of course. All the low lifes that have sex with them are ....what? American? Rrrrrright.

so that makes them american by injection?

That makes it our problem and our responsibility. These girls wouldn't be trafficked over here without customers. Nobody forces them to have sex with a 13 year old Mexican girl. What can be done for her? Simply send her back and tell her because she's a Mexican national she's not our problem? That's just sh!tty.

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

Let's see Steven...from your past posts we should ignore illegal immigration because it's mean to enforce immigration laws, but now we need to crack down on trafficking in women?

As far as I'm concerned human trafficking, open borders agendas, and illegal immigration are all peas in the same pod. None of it should be tolerated, rewarded, or encouraged. Illegal aliens of all types should be subjected to arrest and deportation. Human smugglers should be arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated to the full extent of the law. Employers of illegal aliens should be prosecuted and punished.

You don't keep feeding the beast by rewarding the beast. Zero tolerance for illegal immigration.

I agree...I am foncused as well

The point I was trying to make is that there are quite a lot of folks on VJ that defend illegal immigration as if it is just a minor violation of the law. Like it's no big deal. Human trafficking of all kinds is a major component in illegal immigration. These smuggling operations are major criminal enterprises run by sleazeballs. They are not nice people.

I'm just saying illegal alien amnesties and catering and pandering to illegal aliens just feeds more illegal immigration...including trafficking in women too. These women being trafficked are chosing to illegally immigrate, but it doesn't turn out like they thought it would.

As far as I'm concerned trafficking in women is the result of lax enforcement of all our other immigration laws. Sex slaves are being smuggled into the USA by the same people that smuggle in chicken pluckers and melon pickers. Trafficking in women is just another aspect of illegal immigration.

Peejay, to compare someone crossing the border and working here illegally to the illegal trafficking of women (and young girls) for sex is absurd. Bringing a 13 year old Mexican girl here against her will and forcing her into prostitution is disgusting and sick, and those who are involved should be thrown in prison and locked away for life. In the meantime, what do you suppose happens to all these girls and women after the prostitution rings are brought down? I'd say the very least should be to give them citizenship. They did nothing wrong other than being female and being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Showing no sympathy for them because they aren't legal citizens is shocking...shocking.

These women are citizens of and the responsibility of their own governments. Being a crime victim is hardly grounds for US citizenship. That is totally ridiculous!

Not our problem - of course. All the low lifes that have sex with them are ....what? American? Rrrrrright.

so that makes them american by injection?

That makes it our problem and our responsibility. These girls wouldn't be trafficked over here without customers. Nobody forces them to have sex with a 13 year old Mexican girl. What can be done for her? Simply send her back and tell her because she's a Mexican national she's not our problem? That's just sh!tty.

oh right, someone is victimized in the usa, they should be awarded citizenship as a consolation prize. got it and if the customers are say, japanese businessmen, we should give her japanese citizenship?

need it be pointed out that unless someone is keeping a tally sheet of the "customers" there is really no way to tell that they are all americans, and that assuming so is just guesswork?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Someone involved is only looking for opportunity in such a rich country and trying to make a living. Why hassle them? That's the usual justification for people coming here illegally. Why not apply it to pimps, sex trafficking coyotes, drug mules, id theives, crooked government authorities, and the whole lot working the borders? All the same to me.

Enforce the laws, close the borders.

[Caladan 19]

I believe the U.S. does have a visa class available for victims of sex trafficking. I do not recall if it leads to permanent residency or citizenship (I think so), but the U.S. has used it in a number of cases largely because the easiest way to prosecute a trafficker is to get the girls being trafficked to testify, and saying, well, you were repeatedly raped, we're going to ask you to testify, and then deport you is recognized as not the best incentive to get girls to talk.