Human Trafficking: Alive and Well in The Key City
By: Megan Dobbs, Randy Turner, and Stetson Samuel
Updated: November 10, 2010
Abilene, TX—Human trafficking is rampant worldwide, even right here in Abilene. Now some activists are looking to put a stop to it.
Amber Hoffer recently moved to town from Little Rock, Arkansas, where she worked for the Rush Hour Traffic program aimed at raising awareness for and stopping human trafficking.
When she moved to Abilene, she looked into the issue of human trafficking in this part of Texas.
She found websites similar to those infiltrated with traffickers in other parts of the country centered around Abilene.
One such website is onebackpage.com.
The Abilene page looks similar to the old adult personals page that was recently removed from Craigslist.
Amber said, traffickers in bigger cities like Dallas, Austin and Houston have been known to use code words on these sites to market women, sometimes girls, to men in smaller cities such as Abilene.
While Amber admits she can't say for sure by simply looking at the website that it's a hub for human trafficking but she knows this Abilene focused site looks a lot like those that have led the FBI to such activity and she plans to raise awareness to keep it out of the Key City.
Amber Hoffer recently moved to town from Little Rock, Arkansas, where she worked for the Rush Hour Traffic program aimed at raising awareness for and stopping human trafficking.
When she moved to Abilene, she looked into the issue of human trafficking in this part of Texas.
She found websites similar to those infiltrated with traffickers in other parts of the country centered around Abilene.
One such website is onebackpage.com.
The Abilene page looks similar to the old adult personals page that was recently removed from Craigslist.
Amber said, traffickers in bigger cities like Dallas, Austin and Houston have been known to use code words on these sites to market women, sometimes girls, to men in smaller cities such as Abilene.
While Amber admits she can't say for sure by simply looking at the website that it's a hub for human trafficking but she knows this Abilene focused site looks a lot like those that have led the FBI to such activity and she plans to raise awareness to keep it out of the Key City.
Comments
I apologize for the complex reading of my reply, it was lengthy, and I had to make 3 posts from it, please read it "backwards" for it to make sense.
Amber A.
November 23, 2010 at 5:19 pm
With Texas being an a major entry point for international trafficking (not to mention forced women who are US citizens)it would be wrong to assume it didn't happen in Abilene. If you do your research and look at the local pages for these types of things, you will see it's more of a problem than you realize. These are real women in real horrific dangerous lifestyles, any awareness raised could rescue them or save their life. Educating yourself on the risk and background is never a bad idea. I hope you have a safe and eternally blessed Thanksgiving. :) Sincerely, Amber
Amber A.
November 23, 2010 at 5:18 pm
While the Southwest border is often used as the main portal into the United States, the emerging ports of entry in the region include Atlanta, Houston, Orlando and Washington D.C.(Human Trafficking, A Growing Criminal Market in the U.S. by James OPO., Finckenauer and Jennifer Schrock, International Center, National Instittue of Justice)
As of January 2006, of all human trafficking victims certified in the United States, 25% of them were in Texas, the majority of whom were in Houston. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rescue and Restore Campaign Results, April 2004 thru January 2006). Of the three social service agencies in Houston serving human trafficking victims, YMCA Intl. Houston has served over 105 victims, 2 of whom were under age minors (YMCA Intl., 2007).
As of January 2006, of all human trafficking victims certified in the United States, 25% of them were in Texas, the majority of whom were in Houston. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rescue and Restore Campaign Results, April 2004 thru January 2006). Of the three social service agencies in Houston serving human trafficking victims, YMCA Intl. Houston has served over 105 victims, 2 of whom were under age minors (YMCA Intl., 2007).
Amber A.
November 23, 2010 at 5:17 pm
WestTXSkeeteR:
I am Amber Hoffer, and I was saddened by your post, here is a link in which a case of human trafficking was found in Midland, about 2 hours away, using the EXACT method I was talking about in the interview. http://www.examiner.com/human-trafficking-in-dallas/two-lubbock-residents-arrested-for-[censored]-trafficking-of-a-minor.Also, here are some facts you might find interesting,Texas and the southwest border continue to serve as the biggest point of illegal entry into the U.S., because traffickers are able to get aliens across without documents.The major points of entry into the United States are located in southern (Houston) and [b]central Texas[/b], Southern California, Tucson, Arizona, and areas of New Mexico....
I am Amber Hoffer, and I was saddened by your post, here is a link in which a case of human trafficking was found in Midland, about 2 hours away, using the EXACT method I was talking about in the interview. http://www.examiner.com/human-trafficking-in-dallas/two-lubbock-residents-arrested-for-[censored]-trafficking-of-a-minor.Also, here are some facts you might find interesting,Texas and the southwest border continue to serve as the biggest point of illegal entry into the U.S., because traffickers are able to get aliens across without documents.The major points of entry into the United States are located in southern (Houston) and [b]central Texas[/b], Southern California, Tucson, Arizona, and areas of New Mexico....
Amber A.
November 23, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Irresponsible reporting. Please show me any example of human trafficking being alive and well in Abilene. We know there is prostitution, but I don't know about human trafficking. Mrs Hoffer should find something else to occupy her time, like get a job. This is not Little Rock.
WestTXSkeeteR W.
November 10, 2010 at 4:24 am
Irresponsible reporting. Please show me any example of human trafficking being alive and well in Abilene. We know there is prostitution, but I don't know about human trafficking. Mrs Hoffer should find something else to occupy her time, like get a job. This is not Little Rock.
WestTXSkeeteR W.
November 10, 2010 at 4:23 am
