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Misperceptions about labor trafficking in Colorado: Antonio’s experience

Labor trafficking is a widespread problem occurring in many different industries. Human traffickers often seem legitimate, but lure in workers. | PAID CONTENT

COLORADO, USA — PAID FOR BY the Colorado Human Trafficking Council

Antonio was pursuing a job opportunity in the United States in the restaurant industry. Instead, he was trafficked.

Labor traffickers are operating in Colorado and contrary to some beliefs, they aren’t only taking advantage of those in the country without proper documentation. Labor trafficking is a widespread problem that occurs in many different industries, and anyone who needs a job can be vulnerable to a trafficker’s lies, false promises, and coercion. Traffickers often seem legitimate; they post openings on job websites and recruit in legal ways. They lure in workers who trust the job listing, who is hiring them, and that they will be paid a fair wage for their work. Unfortunately, a trafficker can exploit someone who may not completely understand U.S. labor laws, or who may not speak the language or someone who does not have another means of income—and trap them in a situation from which they cannot escape.

Antonio is a young man who was looking for an opportunity in the United States in the restaurant business. He had prior restaurant experience, and felt he could make better money in the States, and be able to send some back to his parents and siblings in Mexico. He wanted his family to be proud of him. He got a job through a recruitment website and came here legally on a work visa to work in the mountain area of Colorado. However, his freedom was immediately taken from him when the job he was promised turned out to be part of a large-scale restaurant trafficking ring. He was kept in employee housing, forbidden from talking to anyone, he was driven around to different restaurants, and the traffickers held his visa and all identification so he could not leave. He was told he owed his traffickers for food, housing, expenses incurred to obtain his work visa and bring him here, and other expenses. He was isolated, working without pay, and led to believe he owed a debt.

Antonio’s experience is a composite narrative pulled from real-life events, to protect identities. It is part of series from The Colorado Human Trafficking Council’s (“The Council”) This Is Human Trafficking statewide outreach campaign. The intention of The Council’s campaign is to raise awareness and to educate the public about all types of human trafficking in Colorado. The goal is, if we all know more, we can identify traffickers, recruiters, and buyers, prosecute them, and restore freedom and choices for survivors.

Here are some common misperceptions about labor trafficking and the truths that Antonio’s experience sheds light on:

Traffickers only run guns and drugs, not people: Traffickers operate in typical industries (like restaurants, agriculture, construction, hospitality, and other legitimate sectors) and use fraudulent means to recruit and deceive job-seekers and some employers. In Antonio’s case, the restaurant job was real and within a legal industry, but he was never paid for his work—which is not legal.

Immigrants are here illegally so it’s their own fault: Antonio was here legally. He did everything right. In many cases like Antonio’s, a foreign national or any job-seeker has no way of knowing that the job they are taking is part of an organized trafficking ring, or that the recruiter or employer is acting fraudulently.

Human trafficking is when people are smuggled over borders: Human smuggling is a different crime from human trafficking. Human trafficking involves compelled work in either the commercial sex industry or other industries such as agriculture, hospitality, and construction. It is a crime involving the severe exploitation of a person for the purposes of compelled labor or commercial sex, using force, fraud, or coercion.

To leave a tip or connect with a trauma-informed advocate to help navigate available services, call Colorado’s Human Trafficking Hotline at 866-455-5075 or text 720-999-9724.

Colorado’s Human Trafficking Hotline and text line has a vast referral network to help people who have experienced, or are experiencing, sex or labor trafficking. Hotline advocates can connect people to resources for food assistance, crisis services, mental health, substance use, legal services, and more.

Visit https://thisishumantrafficking.com/antonio to learn more about Antonio’s experience.

This project was supported by federal grant #2020-VA-21-601-00, issued by the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice. © 2021 Office for Victims Programs, CDPS

About the Council:

Established through legislation in 2014, housed under the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice, Office for Victims Program, the Council coordinates statewide anti-human trafficking efforts for the ultimate purpose of preventing human trafficking in Colorado. Dedicated to the justice and dignity of human trafficking survivors, the 35-person council represents state and non-government agencies, lived experience experts, law enforcement, prosecutors, regional coalitions and task forces, legal services, victim service providers, academia, and faith-based organizations.

The Council is designed to:

● Bring together leadership from community-based and statewide anti-trafficking efforts

● Build and enhance collaboration among communities and counties within the state

● Establish and improve comprehensive services for victims and survivors of human trafficking

● Assist in the successful prosecution of human traffickers

● Help prevent human trafficking in Colorado

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