[House Hearing, 119 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
A SCOURGE AGAINST HUMANITY: ADDRESSING
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT MASS GATHERINGS
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HEARING
BEFORE THE
TASK FORCE ON
ENHANCING SECURITY FOR SPECIAL
EVENTS IN THE UNITED STATES
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
DECEMBER 17, 2025
__________
Serial No. 119-32
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Homeland Security
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
63-129 PDF WASHINGTON : 2026
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COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY
Andrew R. Garbarino, New York, Chairman
Michael T. McCaul, Texas, Vice Bennie G. Thompson, Mississippi,
Chair Ranking Member
Michael Guest, Mississippi Eric Swalwell, California
Carlos A. Gimenez, Florida J. Luis Correa, California
August Pfluger, Texas Shri Thanedar, Michigan
Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island
Tony Gonzales, Texas Daniel S. Goldman, New York
Morgan Luttrell, Texas Delia C. Ramirez, Illinois
Dale W. Strong, Alabama Timothy M. Kennedy, New York
Josh Brecheen, Oklahoma LaMonica McIver, New Jersey
Elijah Crane, Arizona Julie Johnson, Texas, Vice Ranking
Andrew Ogles, Tennessee Member
Sheri Biggs, South Carolina Pablo Jose Hernandez, Puerto Rico
Gabe Evans, Colorado Nellie Pou, New Jersey
Ryan Mackenzie, Pennsylvania James R. Walkinshaw, Virginia
Brad Knott, North Carolina Troy A. Carter, Louisiana
Vince Fong, California Al Green, Texas
Matt Van Epps, Tennessee
Keighle Joyce, Staff Director
Hope Goins, Minority Staff Director
Sean Corcoran, Chief Clerk
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TASK FORCE ON ENHANCING SECURITY FOR SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE UNITED
STATES
Michael T. McCaul, Texas, Chairman
Carlos A. Gimenez, Florida Nellie Pou, New Jersey, Ranking
Dale W. Strong, Alabama Member
Elijah Crane, Arizona Eric Swalwell, California
Andrew R. Garbarino, New York (ex LaMonica McIver, New Jersey
officio) Bennie G. Thompson, Mississippi
(ex officio)
Diana Bergwin, Task Force Staff Director
Jeremy Gaertner, Minority Task Force Staff Director
C O N T E N T S
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Page
Statements
The Honorable Michael T. McCaul, a Representative in Congress
From the State of Texas, and Chairman, Task Force on Enhancing
Security for Special Events in the United States:
Oral Statement................................................. 1
Prepared Statement............................................. 3
The Honorable Nellie Pou, a Representative in Congress From the
State of New Jersey, and Ranking Member, Task Force on
Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States:
Oral Statement................................................. 4
Prepared Statement............................................. 5
Witnesses
Mr. Jonathan Thompson, Executive Director and Chief Executive
Officer, National Sheriff's Association:
Oral Statement................................................. 8
Prepared Statement............................................. 9
Ms. Courtney Litvak, Director of Survivor Leader Initiatives, No
Trafficking Zone:
Oral Statement................................................. 11
Prepared Statement............................................. 14
Ms. Yasmin Vafa, Executive Director, Rights4Girls:
Oral Statement................................................. 19
Prepared Statement............................................. 21
Ms. Eliza McCoy, Vice President, Programs & Impact, American
Hotel and Lodging Association Foundation:
Oral Statement................................................. 23
Prepared Statement............................................. 25
Ms. Meagan Lundstrom, Chief Executive Officer, Polaris:
Oral Statement................................................. 29
Prepared Statement............................................. 31
For the Record
The Honorable Michael T. McCaul, a Representative in Congress
From the State of Texas, and Chairman, Task Force on Enhancing
Security for Special Events in the United States:
Letter From Airlines for America............................... 6
A SCOURGE AGAINST HUMANITY: ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT MASS
GATHERINGS
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Wednesday, December 17, 2025
U.S. House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the
United States,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:07 p.m., in
room 310, Cannon House Office Building, Hon. Michael T. McCaul
[Chairman of the Task Force] presiding.
Present: Representatives McCaul, Strong, Crane, Pou, and
McIver.
Present: Representatives Luttrell, and Correa.
Mr. McCaul. The Committee on Homeland Security Task Force
on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States
will come to order. Without objection, the Chair may declare
the committee in recess at any point.
Without objection, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Luttrell,
will be sitting on this panel discussion. The gentleman from
Pennsylvania, Mr. Mackenzie; the gentleman from California, Mr.
Correa; the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Green, are permitted to
sit on the dais and ask the witnesses questions.
The purpose of today's hearing is to assess the threat of
and efforts to combat human trafficking ahead of major events
that will be held in the United States, such as the 2026 FIFA
World Cup, which will begin in June. So we have a very short
time frame to get our act together, and the 2028 Los Angeles
Olympics, along with the 250th anniversary of the United States
of America.
I recognize myself for an opening statement.
This is the third hearing of the bipartisan Task Force on
Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States. The
task force provides us a unique opportunity to evaluate the
range of threats facing upcoming mass gathering events, most
importantly, as I stated, FIFA World Cup, the America's 250th
anniversary.
Over the past several months, we have examined historic
security incidents at major events, engaged with Federal law
enforcement on emerging threats such as malicious drone
activities, which are one of the biggest threats. We have held
in-depth discussions with security leadership from FIFA and the
Olympics. These discussions have informed our work to provide
legislative solutions to protect these events and ensure that
they showcase American leadership. In fact, the legislation
this task force is working on to counter adversarial drones at
these events recently passed in the House National Defense
Authorization, which we were very pleased to see. I want to
thank the White House for working with us to get that language
in there and passed, you know, into law.
When we first established this, Ranking Member Pou and I
agreed that that human trafficking associated with these events
would be among the various challenges that need to be
addressed. This is an issue that is near and dear to my heart.
I know it is near and dear to the Ranking Member's heart. It is
one that is a very tragic story that we have seen up front,
close, and personal, and especially with Ms. Courtney Litvak,
who I have had the honor to be associated with from her family
to work, getting her appointed to the White House Advisory
Council on Human Trafficking. A person who experienced grave
danger and abuse at the hands of these traffickers. I know she
has her personal story to tell, but I was so glad that God
blessed us and saved her life and brought her home.
Millions of people that will be subjected to forced labor
and sexual exploitation, they are every day. As we prepare to
host the largest international sporting event in history, it is
essential that law enforcement, advocacy groups, industry
partners, and the Federal Government work together to disrupt
trafficking operations to protect the most vulnerable amongst
us.
There are about an estimated 27.6 million people being
trafficked worldwide. That is an astounding number. Seventy-
seven percent in forced labor, 23 percent in sex trafficking,
and men and boys account for 57 percent of victims, women and
girls for 43 percent. It occurs every day in the United States
and across the globe.
This crime remains hidden to a large extent. The
experiences of survivors are not told as often as they should.
Their courage in sharing their stories, like Ms. Litvak, often
have helped law enforcement learn how to recognize signs of
exploitation, internet--intercept criminal networks, and rescue
victims. I have been long committed to this cause. We call it
human slavery. Back in 2017, I was proud to cosponsor--or, I am
sorry, to sponsor a bill which became law. That was the
Congressional authorization of DHS's Blue Campaign. This
legislation has enabled the Department of Homeland Security to
properly coordinate anti-human trafficking activities and serve
as a resource of State and local law enforcement to end human
trafficking. I don't think we are anywhere near ending human
trafficking, though, unfortunately.
In 2020, I led legislation requiring U.S. Department of
State to track and report when and where traffickers applied
for U.S. visas and we denied those visas. This bill extended
the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking I talked about
through 2025. We will have to reauthorize that to ensure
survivors have a platform on that council to advise the
President's Interagency Task Force on Policies to Combat
Trafficking.
As I mentioned, we are delighted to have Courtney Litvak
here and all of you, between the sheriff and the hotel and
motel association, we rely on law enforcement to enforce
justice, put a stop on these horrible crimes being committed.
Training and coordination must extend beyond law enforcement to
include, as we have here today, hotel staff, organizers,
transportation. It goes into a lot of different areas.
I can go on and on with this, but at the end of the day, I
think this is an important hearing to address a very horrible
crime scourge that is around the world, but we don't--
obviously, seeing it in the United States is very difficult. I
anticipate with these World Cup events coming up, just like we
have seen with Super Bowl games, and I think we will be talking
about the Houston one in particular. It is one of the--as
Federal--former Federal prosecutor, Chairman of this committee
former. It is one of the most horrific things I have seen in my
lifetime. I want to do everything we can, Ms. Pou, and this
task force to try to ensure these games are safely conducted
with as little of this criminal activity as possible.
[The statement of Chairman McCaul follows:]
Statement of Chairman Michael T. McCaul
Welcome to the third hearing of the bipartisan Task Force on
Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States. This task
force provides us a unique opportunity to evaluate the range of threats
facing upcoming mass gathering events--most immediately the FIFA World
Cup and America's 250th Anniversary in the summer of 2026.
Over the past several months, we have examined historic security
incidents at major events, engaged with Federal law enforcement on
emerging threats such as malicious drone activity, and held in-depth
discussions with security leadership from FIFA and the Los Angeles
Olympics. These discussions have informed our work to provide
legislative solutions to protect these events and ensure they showcase
American leadership. In fact, the legislation this task force was
working on to counter adversarial drones at these events recently
passed the House in the NDAA.
When we first established this task force, Ranking Member Pou and I
agreed that human trafficking associated with these events would be
among the challenges we addressed. The United States stands as a beacon
of freedom, prosperity, and opportunity. Yet every day, millions of
people are subjected to forced labor and sexual exploitation. As we
prepare to host the largest international sporting event in history, it
is essential that law enforcement, advocacy groups, industry partners,
and the Federal Government work together to disrupt trafficking
operations and protect the most vulnerable among us.
Today, an estimated 27.6 million people are being trafficked
worldwide: 77 percent in forced labor and 23 percent in sex
trafficking. Men and boys account for 57 percent of victims, women and
girls for 43 percent. Trafficking occurs every day in the United
States, across the globe, and in our own communities.
While much about this crime remains hidden, the experiences of
survivors must inform our response. Their courage in sharing their
stories has helped law enforcement learn how to recognize signs of
exploitation, intercept criminal networks, and rescue victims.
I have long been committed to eradicating the societal scourge that
is human trafficking. Back in 2017, I was proud to sponsor a bill,
which has since become law, granting Congressional authorization to
DHS's Blue Campaign. That legislation has enabled the Department of
Homeland Security to properly coordinate anti-human trafficking
activities while also serving as a resource to State and local law
enforcement personnel working to end human trafficking. In 2020, I led
legislation requiring the U.S. Department of State to track and report
when and where traffickers applied for U.S. visas and were denied. This
bill also extended the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking
through 2025, ensuring survivors continue to have a platform to advise
the President's Interagency Task Force on policies to combat
trafficking. I'm extremely proud that with us today is Courtney Litvak,
a member of that advisory council and a truly inspiring young woman
I've been honored to work with over the years.
As much as we rely on law enforcement to enforce justice and put a
stop to the transnational criminal organizations and trafficking rings
responsible for this heinous crime, advocacy groups and industry
partners also play a critical role through providing intelligence and
raising public awareness. Training and coordination must extend beyond
law enforcement to include hotel staff, venue security, event
organizers, transportation personnel, and other front-line workers.
These individuals are often the first to identify signs of trafficking.
Early detection and intervention will be essential.
Today's hearing is an important step in preparing our Nation for
the scale of what lies ahead. It is our responsibility to ensure these
historic events are remembered not only for their celebration of
international coordination and pride, but for our commitment to
protecting the ideals this Nation was founded upon. I look forward to
hearing from our witnesses and continuing our work to confront this
challenge with the urgency it demands.
Mr. McCaul. So with that, I now recognize the Ranking
Member, the gentlelady from New Jersey, Ms. Pou, for her
opening statement.
Ms. Pou. Thank you. Thank you so very much, Mr. Chairman.
Good afternoon to everyone.
Mr. Chairman, I am glad to be leading our bipartisan task
force with you today on such an important topic. Before I
start, I want to express my deepest sympathies and condolences
to the victims and families of the horrible shooting at Brown
University and those in Australia this past weekend.
So let me just begin by saying as, as you have just
expressed, you know, human trafficking often is overlooked or
ignored in the United States. Chairman McCaul, I know that you
have worked to combat trafficking, particularly through your
leadership in authorizing, as you have just mentioned, the Blue
Campaign at the Department of Homeland Security, which has
saved countless lives. Bringing attention and resources to
combat human trafficking has been a long-time priority for me
as well.
In the New Jersey State legislature, I led legislation that
broadened the definition of trafficking, increasing penalties
for perpetrators, and provided support for victims. We must do
everything possible to prevent individuals from being
trafficked and fully prosecute those who commit trafficking
crimes.
Earlier this year, I co-led bipartisan legislation with
Congressman Guest that strengthens our ability to stop drug and
human trafficking abroad. The House passed that measure and now
we just simply need the Senate to act.
Today's hearing is another opportunity to discuss that and
other policies that we can implement to prevent trafficking at
some of the largest events in our Nation's history. In the
coming years, we will welcome people from all around the world
for the World Cup. That is just next year. I said in the coming
years, but it is here. Before we know it, it will certainly be
here in front of us, welcoming everyone from around the world
for the World Cup and the Olympics and the Paralympics Games.
This is particularly exciting for me as our district in
northern New Jersey will host the World Cup Final.
The threat environment for human trafficking will become
more and more complex. There will be criminals who traffic and
enslave laborers and criminals will sell cheap merchandise made
using slave labor from foreign countries. World Cup matches
will be spread around and across 3 different countries, and our
country will host games in 11 different cities. That means that
people will be traveling and constantly moving, giving
traffickers cover for their illegal and sick behavior.
Now is the time to be proactive. We have to make sure that
our Federal, State, and local partners are trained in how to
recognize the signs of human trafficking and forced labor
trafficking and are equipped with the resources needed to halt
these threats. I am concerned that personnel at DHS, including
at the Center for Countering Human Trafficking and Homeland
Security Investigations, are being reassigned to other
priorities outside of human trafficking and the child sexual
exploitation investigations.
As Members of Congress, we have a responsibility to raise
public awareness on human trafficking. This hearing is a good
step in that direction.
Mr. Chairman, and I certainly thank you for doing this. I
look forward to the hearing, to hearing from our witnesses who
really have been on the front line on all of this. So thank you
to each and every one of you for participating, for being a
part of this, and for sharing your stories.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
[The statement of Ranking Member Pou follows:]
Statement of Ranking Member Nellie Pou
December 17, 2025
Human trafficking often is overlooked or ignored in the United
States. Chairman McCaul, I know that you have worked to combat
trafficking, particularly through your leadership in authorizing the
Blue Campaign at the Department of Homeland Security, which has saved
countless lives.
Bringing attention and resources to combat human trafficking has
been a long-time priority for me as well. In the New Jersey State
legislature, I led legislation that broadened the definition of
trafficking, increased penalties for perpetrators, and provided support
for victims. We must do everything possible to prevent individuals from
being trafficked and fully prosecute those who commit trafficking
crimes.
Earlier this year I co-led bipartisan legislation with Congressman
Guest that strengthens our ability to stop drug and human trafficking
abroad. The House passed that measure and now we need the Senate to
act. Today's hearing is another opportunity to discuss that and other
policies we can implement to prevent trafficking at some of the largest
events in our Nation's history. In the coming years, we will welcome
people from all around the world for the World Cup and the Olympic and
Paralympic games.
This is particularly exciting for me as our district in northern
New Jersey will host the World Cup final.
The threat environment for human trafficking will become more and
more complex. There will be criminals who traffic and enslave laborers.
And criminals will sell cheap merchandise made using slave labor from
foreign countries. World Cup matches will be spread across 3 different
countries, and our country will host games in 11 different cities. That
means that people will be traveling and constantly moving, giving
traffickers cover for their illegal and sick behavior. Now is the time
to be proactive.
We have to make sure that our Federal, State, and local partners
are trained in how to recognize the signs of human trafficking and
forced labor trafficking and are equipped with the resources needed to
halt these threats. I am concerned that personnel at DHS, including at
the Center for Countering Human Trafficking and Homeland Security
Investigations, are being reassigned to other priorities outside of
human trafficking and child sexual exploitation investigations.
As Members of Congress we have a responsibility to raise public
awareness on human trafficking. This hearing is a good step in that
direction. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses on the front
lines.
Mr. McCaul. I thank the Ranking Member.
Other Members are reminded that opening statements may be
submitted for the record. Without objection, I want to submit
this letter from Airlines for America, discussing their
participation with the DHS Blue Campaign and preparations for
the World Cup. Without objection, so ordered.
[The information follows:]
Letter From Airlines for America
December 15, 2025.
The Honorable Michael McCaul,
Chairman, Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the
United States, H2-176 Ford House Office Building, Washington,
DC 20515.
RE: Hearing on ``A Scourge Against Humanity: Addressing Human
Trafficking at Mass Gatherings''
Dear Chairman McCaul: As the United States prepares for the FIFA
World Cup in 2026 and the International Summer Olympic Games in 2028,
Airlines for America (A4A)\1\ welcomes the opportunity to submit
comments for the record regarding the hearing entitled ``A Scourge
Against Humanity: Addressing Human Trafficking at Mass Gatherings.''
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\1\ A4A is the trade association for the leading U.S. airlines,
both passenger and cargo carriers. Members of the association are
Alaska Air Group; American Airlines; Atlas Air; Delta Air Lines; FedEx;
JetBlue Airways; Southwest Airlines; United Airlines; and UPS. Air
Canada is an associate member.
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With preparations already underway, A4A and our member airlines are
committed to working with Federal, State, and local governments to
support efforts to combat human trafficking. Aviation plays a key role
in our nation's critical infrastructure, and our sector's operations
are dependent and reliant upon the many government agencies we interact
with, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
airline participation in fifa world cup 2026 working groups
Alongside CBP and TSA, A4A participates in two working groups under
the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup: The International
Visitors and Visas Working Group is focused on ensuring streamlined and
legal processing for visitors arriving to the United States and for
U.S. citizens and residents traveling internationally across venue
locations. The Transportation, Travel, and Tourism Working Group is
focused on ensuring operational readiness at U.S. airports and venue
locations with a focus on hospitality and innovation to meet the
President's vision to usher in a golden age of travel.
A4A and our members are supportive of the administration's vision
and committed to working together to ensure the success of the FIFA
World Cup while prioritizing the safety and security of the traveling
public, including those who may be at risk of human trafficking.
department of homeland security's blue campaign
A4A and our member airlines are also active partners in the
Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Blue Campaign and other
Federal, State, and local human trafficking prevention programs. As
described by DHS: Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign
designed to educate the public, law, enforcement, and other industry
partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking and how to
appropriately respond to possible cases. Blue Campaign works closely
with DHS components to develop general awareness training, as well as
specific educational resources to help reduce victimization within
vulnerable populations.
Located within the Office of Partnership and Engagement and aligned
with the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, Blue Campaign
leverages partnerships with the private sector, Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGO), law enforcement, and State/local authorities to
maximize national public engagement on anti-human trafficking efforts.
Blue Campaign's educational awareness objectives consist of two
foundational elements, prevention of human trafficking and protection
of exploited persons.\2\
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\2\ https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/about-blue-campaign.
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human trafficking regulatory requirements on airline industry
In addition, beginning in 2009, Congress has enacted several pieces
of legislation outlining air carrier requirements to train employees to
recognize and respond to potential instances of human trafficking.
These include:
2016 FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act.--Requires air
carriers to expand annual training for flight attendants to
include recognizing and responding to potential instances of
human trafficking.
2018 FAA Reauthorization Act.--Requires air carriers to
annually train ``ticket counter agents, gate agents and other
air carrier workers whose job require regular interaction with
passengers'' to recognize and respond to potential instances of
human trafficking.
2019 Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and
Protection Reauthorization Act.--Requires certain air carriers
to track the number of personnel trained to recognize and
report human trafficking, the number of notifications received
from staff and passengers and whether the air carrier notified
the National Human Trafficking Hotline or law enforcement at
the relevant airport.
2022 Human Trafficking Prevention Act.--Requires that DOT
seek to provide for the posting of contact information of the
National Human Trafficking Hotline in the restrooms of each
aircraft, airport, over-theroad bus, bus station, passenger
train and passenger railroad station operating within the
United States.
legislative recommendation
As outlined above, airlines and their employees take combatting
human trafficking very seriously and are compliant with Federal
regulations. Like many reporting policies, it is important that those
reporting suspicious activity are not deterred or subject to the threat
of frivolous litigation or retribution when the reporting is done in
accordance with mandatory human trafficking training.
Current law provides immunity for reporting suspicious activity in
the cases of air piracy, a threat to aircraft or passenger safety and
terrorism, among others. To address this emerging human trafficking
reporting concern, A4A recommends amending the Aviation Transportation
Security Act (ATSA) (Pub. L. 107-71, codified at 49 U.S.C. 44941) to
include the voluntary reporting of human trafficking suspicious under
the protection of immunity for reporting suspicious activities. We
would be happy to work with the Task Force on a legislative proposal to
explicitly correct this reporting deterrent.
conclusion
A4A appreciates the opportunity to provide comments to the hearing
and this important topic, and we look forward to working with the
Committee, Task Force and our government partners as the U.S. continues
to prepare for these world class events.
Sincerely,
Haley Gallagher,
Vice President of Security and Facilitation Airlines for America
(A4A).
Mr. McCaul. We are pleased to have a distinguished panel of
witnesses before us here today to discuss this important and
sensitive topic. I ask that our witnesses please rise and raise
their right hand.
[Witnesses sworn.]
Mr. McCaul. Thank you. Please be seated. Let the record
reflect the witnesses have answered in the affirmative.
Now I would like to formally introduce our witnesses.
First, Mr. Jonathan Thompson is the executive director and
chief executive officer of the National Sheriff's Association,
an organization that represents the interest of over 3,000
sheriffs in the United States and their deputies.
Ms. Courtney Litvak is the director of Survivor Leader
Initiatives for No Trafficking Zone, a nonprofit dedicated to
disrupting and dismantling human trafficking by advocating for
the creation of No Trafficking Zones that implement high-risk
penalties and crimes for predators that prey on children and
adults. Ms. Litvak, as I mentioned, is a survivor of human
trafficking and her advocacy has truly been extraordinary and
incredible.
Ms. Yasmin Vafa is the cofounder and executive director of
Rights4Girls. Her advocacy focuses on the intersection of race,
gender, and systematic violence. Rights4Girls has driven key
legislative reforms at all levels and raised national awareness
around the criminalization and survivors of sexual violence.
Ms. Eliza McCoy is the vice president of programs and
impact at the American Hotel and Lodging Association
Foundation. In her role, she works to bolster and expand AHLA
Foundation's programs to broaden impact, including No Room for
Trafficking Initiative.
Ms. Meagan Lundstrom is a chief executive officer of
Polaris, a role in which she leads national strategy operations
and partnerships that integrate advocacy, research, and
technology to prevent and disrupt trafficking. Her leadership
has reinforced Polaris' role as a collaborative survivor-led
thought partner, advancing intelligence, coordination, and
field stewardship.
I want to thank all of you for being here today.
With that, I recognize Mr. Thompson for 5 minutes to
summarize his opening statement.
STATEMENT OF JONATHAN THOMPSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NATIONAL SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION
Mr. Thompson. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member
Pou. I want to thank you both for leading this really important
task force and I'm so honored to be here. I'm also happy to see
that this is a bipartisan approach because we do need that.
Today I want to address a critical and often hidden danger
that lurks amid the fun and excitement of some of our mass
gatherings, human trafficking. These events, whether concerts,
festivals, sporting events, they draw millions together in
celebration, but, unfortunately, they create huge
vulnerabilities exploited by traffickers. In the next few
minutes we'll explore the risks of the world with examples,
prevention strategies, and how each of us can play a role in
safeguarding lives.
Mass gatherings amplify trafficking risks due to their
scale, chaos, and, quite honestly, the unknowns. Crowds provide
noisy cover for predators to spot, groom, and steal victims
often, often, too often, vulnerable youth, runaways, or those
seeking temporary work. High-traffic venues like stadiums,
fairgrounds, and urban festivals see spikes in opportunities--
in opportunistic crimes, excuse me. Traffickers are using the
hustle and the bustle and distraction to drug drinks with
ketamine, Valium, GHB, and other agents to coerce individuals
into isolated areas or transport victims across State lines
under the guise of event staffing.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security notes that events
like the Super Bowl, FIFA Games, Summer Olympics, and big
concerts have historically correlated with increased
trafficking reports, with the sick criminals blending into the
throng to sell victims for sex or forced labor. Consider that
during the large-scale events, hotline calls to the National
Human Trafficking Hotline surge by up to 20 or even 30 percent
in host cities.
Victims are frequently lured and promised VIP access with
free tickets or jobs only to face coercion through debt,
bondage, threats, or violence. Domestically, post-event
investigations reveal that hotel rooms turned into brothels and
parking lots as handover points. These are not isolated
incidents. These are patterns. They are enabled by transient
populations and lacks oversight.
Prevention demands a multi-layered approach. Event
organizers must train staff to see something, say something;
protocols, spotting the signs like branded tattoos,
malnourished individuals avoiding eye contact, or groups with
mismatched ages and behaviors. Perhaps with law enforcement
like the Blue Campaign, we can provide toolkits for secure
ticketing, well-lit perimeters, and victim-centered reporting
applications. Technology aid to facial recognition at entry
points, an AI monitor, CCTV can flag anomalies without
infringing privacy. Governments should mandate anti-trafficking
clauses in event permits, while NGO's and law enforcement
deploy mobile response teams.
On a different note, but similar, the sheriffs want to
thank the committee and the House for including language in the
NDAA that allows us with proper training and guardrails to
mitigate drones at mass gatherings. Another safety initiative
welcomed, very welcomed.
But change starts with us. I tell people you see a young
person looking lost or controlled, approach safely and alert
authorities via 1-888-373-7888. Let me repeat that, 888-373-
7888. We should also work to gain accountability and good
working relationships from the venues. All of us can help
transport mass gatherings from Serengeti-like hunting grounds
into safe, fun events as they're intended.
Mr. Chairman, I want to veer off topic for just 1 minute,
if I may, and let the committee know that the sheriffs'
president, association's president, Sheriff Chris West of
Canadian County, Oklahoma, and I have been reviewing the drug
boat missile strikes recently. It seems to us that anytime you
keep drugs like cocaine and fentanyl from reaching American
shores, then kinetic action is saving American lives. There is
a connection. There is a connection to human trafficking. The
cartels own it, they oversee it, they operate it, and they are
relentless, relentless in how they approach things.
Thank you for your interest. We appreciate this. It is a
growing problem, but we must focus on this. I cannot tell you
how much the sheriffs appreciate your collective efforts. Thank
you very much.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Thompson follows:]
Prepared Statement of Jonathan F. Thompson
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss
proactive measures to safeguard mass events across the United States.
As the Nation prepares to host unprecedented gatherings over the next 3
years--including 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, the 2028 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles, and an expanding national calendar of large music
festivals--our security posture must evolve to anticipate and counter
emerging threats.
My testimony focuses on five areas: (1) Drug-facilitated crime and
public safety, (2) biometric and facial recognition systems, (3)
digital anti-human trafficking tools, (4) drone and counter-UAS
operations, and (5) specialized training for local law enforcement and
event personnel.
i. drug-facilitated crime and public safety risks
Mass gatherings create ideal environments for exploitation through
drug misuse, particularly substances such as ketamine, gamma
hydroxybutyrate (GHB), and emerging synthetic analogs, which can be
colorless, tasteless, and fast-acting. These characteristics make them
tools for sexual assault and robbery in dense, high-energy venues where
early symptoms are difficult to distinguish from intoxication or
fatigue.
At events like international soccer matches, Olympic celebrations,
and festivals such as Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Electric Daisy
Carnival, crowd dynamics can delay detection and reporting. To mitigate
these risks, event security planning should incorporate:
Field testing kits and portable spectrometers at checkpoints
and backstage areas to detect ketamine, GHB, and similar agents
in drinks or on surfaces.
Public education campaigns, including signage and mobile
alerts, warning about drink-spiking risks and directing
attendees to on-site medical and reporting stations.
Interdisciplinary response teams where medical personnel and
law enforcement are trained together to recognize symptoms,
preserve evidence, and support survivors.
These actions would shorten response times and improve case
outcomes for drug-facilitated assaults at large events.
ii. advancing facial recognition and biometric systems
Upcoming FIFA matches, the Los Angeles Olympics, and large-scale
fan zones will draw millions of spectators, dignitaries, and workers
into dense urban areas, making identity management and perimeter
control paramount. Facial recognition and AI-enabled video analytics
can help identify persons of interest, detect restricted-area breaches,
and verify credentials, but deployment must be consistent with
Constitutional protections and privacy safeguards.
Policy recommendations include:
Creating and maintaining a DHS-approved list of biometric
systems that meet accuracy, demographic fairness, and
cybersecurity standards suitable for dynamic mass-event
environments.
Ensuring secure, role-based integration of facial
recognition alerts with DHS fusion centers and FBI databases,
limited to specific, event-related objectives.
Mandating strict data minimization, including short,
predefined retention windows and independent audit logs, so
data are deleted after the operational need ends.
These measures would enhance situational awareness at stadiums and
fan zones while preserving public trust.
iii. digital anti-human trafficking tools
International events and large music festivals can increase
vulnerability to sex and labor trafficking, as traffickers exploit
transient workforces, informal lodging, and large anonymous crowds.
Federal campaigns and task forces already provide training and
awareness tools to help law enforcement and first responders recognize
trafficking indicators and respond appropriately, and similar
approaches can be embedded into mass-event planning.
Key strategies are:
Deploying AI-driven tools to analyze on-line advertising,
payment patterns, and communications that may indicate
trafficking activity in host cities before and during events.
Installing multilingual digital kiosks and secure mobile
portals at venues, transportation hubs, and fan zones so
victims or witnesses can seek help anonymously and be quickly
connected with trained responders.
Enhancing secure data-sharing and evidence management among
Federal agencies and local task forces, using modern, auditable
systems that protect privacy while maintaining chain of
custody.
Applying these tools to World Cup host cities, Olympic venues, and
festival locations would strengthen efforts to identify victims and
disrupt trafficking networks linked to large events.
iv. drone security and counter-uas operations
Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have become integral for aerial
broadcasting, crowd monitoring, and logistics, but unauthorized drones
pose risks ranging from airborne hazards to hostile surveillance and
potential weaponization. Security planners for the 2026 World Cup and
2028 Olympics are already emphasizing the need to expand counter-UAS
authority and capabilities for State and local partners under Federal
oversight.
To address this threat, Congress and DHS should:
Support use of flexible temporary flight restrictions and
geo-fenced air space around stadiums, fan festivals, and
training facilities, coordinated with the FAA and local
authorities.
Invest in layered detection systems combining radio-
frequency sensing, radar, and optical tracking to distinguish
authorized broadcast or safety drones from unauthorized
incursions.
Expand counter-UAS training and technical assistance for
qualified State and local law enforcement, under a Federal
legal framework that protects lawful aviation and
communications systems.
These steps will help prevent malicious or careless drone activity
from disrupting high-profile matches, ceremonies, and outdoor concerts.
v. strengthening local training and coordination
Technology alone cannot secure mass events without trained
personnel who can interpret data and act quickly. Security preparations
for the World Cup and Olympics already involve close coordination among
Federal agencies, State agencies, and local police, highlighting the
importance of sustained training, exercises, and clear roles.
Recommended actions include:
Developing a national ``Mass Event Security and Response''
curriculum through the Department of Homeland Security that
covers drug-facilitated crimes, biometrics, counter-UAS
operations, and human trafficking, with modules tailored to
stadiums, fan festivals, and music events.
Aligning Federal grant guidance so States and localities can
prioritize funding for technology integration, multi-agency
exercises, and specialized training connected to upcoming FIFA
matches, Olympic events, and major festivals.
Requiring standardized after-action reports for Federally-
supported events, capturing threat incidents, technology
performance, interagency coordination successes, and lessons
learned in a central repository.
Institutionalizing this knowledge will improve readiness not just
for one tournament or festival season, but for all future large-scale
events.
conclusion
The United States is entering a period of exceptional global
visibility as it prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Summer
Olympics in Los Angeles, and a sustained boom in large music festivals
and other mass gatherings. These events showcase national strengths and
community spirit, but they also present attractive targets for those
who would exploit crowds, technologies, and complex logistics.
By integrating advanced detection of drugs like ketamine and GHB,
responsible use of facial recognition, modern digital anti-trafficking
tools, robust counter-drone capabilities, and comprehensive training
for local law enforcement and event staff, the Nation can significantly
reduce risk while preserving the openness and celebration that define
these occasions.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify and for your leadership on
this critical set of issues.
Mr. McCaul. Thank you, Mr. Thompson.
I now recognize Ms. Litvak for 5 minutes to summarize her
opening statement.
STATEMENT OF COURTNEY LITVAK, DIRECTOR OF SURVIVOR LEADER
INITIATIVES, NO TRAFFICKING ZONE
Ms. Litvak. Thank you to the Members of this critical task
force and primarily to Chairman McCaul, who is a dear ally of
mine for many years, and also to Ranking Member Pou. My name is
Courtney Litvak and I am honored to be here today to testify
about the scourge against humanity, particularly addressing
human trafficking at mass gatherings. I am representing the No
Trafficking Zone and all of the victims and survivors just like
me. I pray my testimony will help you understand how and why
money, power, control, and lack of truth of this sophisticated
crime are imposing destruction and brokenness throughout our
Nation.
The annual global profits from forced labor and forced
sexual exploitation have risen to over an estimated $236
billion. Today I will highlight some of the devastating effects
human trafficking has on its millions of victims and their
families as well as the human heart and soul.
I also want to focus on the contributing factors and
intersections of increased human trafficking during mass
gatherings and events, including but not limited to FIFA World
Cup, the Super Bowl, and the Olympics. NTZ is a nonpartisan
nonprofit whose mission is to prevent, combat, and eradicate
human trafficking by creating No Trafficking Zones throughout
the world. This takes survivor-led solutions, unity, and
mobilization, trauma-informed training, intelligence gathering,
legislation, and victim-centered education.
No Trafficking Zone dismantles human trafficking by
breaking it down into identifiable markets, building and
informing operational models and task forces that implement
tangible real-world solutions. One of those major markets sits
at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and sex and labor
trafficking.
In 2020, the NTZ Game Over Initiative was launched at NRG
Park in Houston, Texas, the busiest stadium and sports
entertainment complex in America. Hosting more than 6 million
visitors annually, NRG Park became the first certified No
Trafficking Zone sports and entertainment venue in the world.
Today some of NRG Park initiatives with No Trafficking and Zone
include our updated survivor-led signage that was recently
unveiled throughout the venue in both English and Spanish.
This NTZ Game Over Initiative model turns a stadium and
massive event venue from a passive location into an active
deterrence and response versus reactive environment to prevent
and combat human trafficking in all of its forms. NTZ is also
training other States and sports stadiums to become No
Trafficking Zones alongside our national-led Survivor Sports
Committee. No Trafficking Zone is honored to partner and work
closely with our incredible impact partners, such as HIDTA,
Harris County Sheriff's Office, HSI, DEA, National Child ID,
and many more.
No Trafficking Zone does not operate in isolation. We help
build and support multiagency task forces that bring local,
State, and Federal partners to dismantle organized crime and
transnational networks. NTZ serves as the human trafficking
coordinator for HIDTA, a high-intensity drug trafficking area
task force that integrates local, State, Federal law
enforcement agencies. Through the Game Over Initiative, NTZ
works directly with HIDTA intelligence analysts that track
trafficking trends surrounding major gaming events. An example,
earlier this month, our analysts tracked over 600 live illicit
sex advertisements during a local NFL game.
National hotline data and law enforcement reporting
consistently show increased enforced labor procurement and sex
trafficking activity surrounding major sporting events and mass
gatherings. The NTZ Game Over Initiative has received national
recognition, including earlier this year the NFL Alumni
Association and Pro Football Hall of Fame bestowed to our
unwavering CEO Jacquelyn Aluotto. NTZ also serves as the FIFA
Human Rights Committee, on that committee in Houston, Texas,
where we are actively training law enforcement and partners.
Now, survivor leadership is so important. It is embedded in
every single NTZ model. Survivors like myself understand
grooming, coercion, recruitment, and movement patterns better
than anyone else and than traditional security models can
identify.
I myself went from being sex trafficked by a Romeo and
gorilla pimp during the 2017 Super Bowl in NRG Park's parking
lot and surrounding hotels to working with NTZ and the Harris
County Task Force at NRG Park to combat the very crime that
once ensnared me. One heartbreaking incident I will never
forget occurred just hours after I physically ran for my life.
Following nearly 3 years of being trafficked, I was reunited
with my family. As surreal as that was, I remember seeing my
dad running toward me in the airport terminal, only for him to
run right past me. He did not recognize his own daughter. I was
so severely emaciated and badly injured that I was truly
unrecognizable.
Less than 2 weeks later, I met one of the most remarkable
leaders and fathers who had been searching for me and praying
for my safe return home, Congressman Michael McCaul. I went
from being one of his constituents to being groomed and sex
trafficked from my own high school in his district. I will
never forget Congressman McCaul and my angel Larissa coming to
check on me, sitting with me, talking with me, and listening
for hours at my childhood church. He can attest to both my
profound physical and psychological scars. But I was alive and
I was finally home.
I remember wondering if it was real. Could I truly be here
telling the congressman about what I had just escaped from
narrowly surviving? That is how immensely blessed I feel to be
sitting here before you all today. I am blessed. I am a child
of God. I am a miracle.
I escaped, but so many others have not, like all of the
experts here sitting alongside me know. Many have lost their
lives to this evil. At times, the enemy tries to burden me with
survivor's guilt, but God reminds me to look the devil in the
face and declare, you intended to harm me, but God intended it
for good to accomplish what is being done now, the saving of
many lives. Genesis 50:20, my life verse. I stand before you
today, not bearing the outward appearance of the horrors I
endured, as many survivors do not. But because of the blood of
Jesus, I am reborn, no longer made in my trafficker's image,
but in his.
This is the true nature of the battle we face if we hope to
come close to eradicating human trafficking in our Nation and
world. As Scripture reminds us, be strong in the Lord, for our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, authorities, and spiritual forces of evil. Therefore,
just as God saved and spoke to me, I urge you all, put on the
full armor of God. Do not be afraid. Victims need to know that
they are not alone, just as I did and was reminded of that. We
all fall short of His glory. I know I do. But His grace and
mercy are sufficient.
Therefore, human trafficking at large and mass gatherings
and events is not inevitable. It is preventable and combatable.
I am proof of this. When we treat sports and entertainment
venues as trafficking markets, build an informed task force,
collaborate with Federal law enforcement, integrate
intelligence and center survivor leadership, we move from
awareness to action and from reaction to prevention.
Let us all work together to hold stakeholders accountable
in order to make FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, and the
Olympics and all mass gatherings No Trafficking Zones. Thank
you all for letting me share my heart with you and for your
leadership and your commitment to addressing what truly is a
scourge against humanity. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Ms. Litvak follows:]
Prepared Statement of Courtney Litvak
December 17, 2025
Dear Chairman McCaul, and Members of the Task Force: Thank you to
the Members of this critical Task Force and to Chairman Michael McCaul.
I am honored to be here today to testify about the Scourge Against
Humanity: Addressing Human Trafficking at Mass Gatherings. I am
representing No Trafficking Zone, Inc (NTZ) and all the victims and
survivors just like me. I pray my testimony will help you understand
how and why money, power, control and lack of truth of this
sophisticated crime are imposing destruction and brokenness throughout
our Nation. The annual global profits from forced labour and forced
sexual exploitation have risen to over an estimated $236 billion.
Today, I will highlight the devastating effects human trafficking has
on its millions of victims and their families, as well as the human
heart and soul. I also want to focus on the contributing factors,
indicators, and intersections of increased human trafficking during
mass gatherings and special events including but not limited to: FIFA
World Cup, the Super Bowl, and the Olympics.
NTZ is a non-partisan, non-profit whose mission is to prevent,
combat, and eradicate human trafficking by creating no trafficking
zones throughout the world. This takes survivor-led solutions, unity,
mobilization, trauma-informed training, collaboration, intelligence
gathering and dissemination, legislation, and victim-centered
education.
No Trafficking Zone dismantles human trafficking by breaking it
down into identifiable markets, building and informing operational
models and task forces that implement tangible, real-world solutions.
One of those major markets sits at the intersection of sports,
entertainment, and sex and labor trafficking.
nrg park's commitment to preventing and combatting trafficking
In 2020, the NTZ Game Over Initiative was launched at NRG Park in
Houston, Texas, the busiest stadium and sports and entertainment
complex in America, hosting more than 6 million visitors annually.
NRG Park became the first certified No Trafficking Zone sports and
entertainment venue in the world.
Today, NRG Park includes:
Updated survivor-led signage was recently unveiled
throughout the venue in both English and Spanish
NTZ first created and embedded a human trafficking response
team and resources inside stadium operations including but not
limited to: Houston Texan's home games, the NCAA Championships,
and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Active coordination with local, tribal, State, and Federal
law enforcement partners.
Direct collaboration with NRG Park security teams during
large events.
This NTZ Game Over Initiative model turns a stadium and massive
event venue from a passive location into an active deterrence and
response vs reactive environment to prevent and combat human
trafficking in all its forms. NTZ is also training other States and
sports stadiums to become No Trafficking Zones.
Alongside our National Survivor Led Sports Committee, No
Trafficking Zone is honored to partner and work closely with our
incredible impact partners such as: HIDTA, the Harris County Sheriff's
Office, HSI, DEA, Child ID/Amber Alerts, US Marshalls, and the FBI.
building task forces and coordinating with hidta
No Trafficking Zone does not operate in isolation. We help build
and support multi-agency task forces that bring together local, State,
and Federal partners to dismantle organized crime and transnational
networks.
NTZ serves as the Human Trafficking Coordinator for Houston HIDTA,
a High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force that integrates
local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies. This coordination
allows trafficking to be targeted alongside drug trafficking, gang
activity, and money laundering rather than in silos.
Through the Game Over Initiative, NTZ works directly with HIDTA
intelligence analysts who track trafficking trends surrounding major
games and events, and movement patterns. Earlier this month, our
analysts tracked over 600+ live illicit sex advertisements during a
local NFL game.
By merging HIDTA's intelligence capabilities with survivor-informed
field operations and venue security, trafficking pipelines can be
identified and disrupted in real time.
what the data and survivors teach us at large events and sports--sex
and labor trafficking intersection
National hotline data and law enforcement reporting consistently
show increases in forced labor procurement and sex trafficking activity
surrounding major sporting events and mass gatherings.
These factors include but are not limited to:
Spikes in on-line sex advertisements timed to games,
tournaments, and large events.
Increased movement of victims through hotels, ride shares,
parking infrastructure, and entertainment districts.
Elevated risk for minors, particularly through on-line
grooming and peer-on-peer recruitment including through social
media.
Construction projects and vendors for stadiums and event
venues or infrastructure upgrades may involve migrant or
temporary labor subject to coercion or exploitative conditions.
These patterns confirm what survivors and investigators know:
sports and entertainment venues are a trafficking market that requires
intentional intervention and oversight at all levels.
national and international recognition
The NTZ Game Over Initiative has received national recognition,
including an award this year from the NFL Alumni Association and the
Pro Football Hall of Fame, bestowed to our unwavering and fearless CEO
Jacquelyn Aluotto.
NTZ also serves on the FIFA Human Rights Committee in Houston,
Texas, where we are actively training law enforcement and partners in
preparation for FIFA events.
In addition, No Trafficking Zone has presented this stadium model
to the White House and the Department of Homeland Security, where we
were asked whether the model could be replicated nationally.
survivor leadership as a public safety strategy
Survivor leadership is embedded into every NTZ model. Survivors
understand grooming, coercion, recruitment, and movement patterns
better than anyone else and that traditional security models often
miss.
Survivors are not stories or just statistics. They are strategic
experts whose insight strengthens prevention, identification, and
response.
my personal testimony and survivor story
I myself went from being sex trafficked by a romeo and guerrilla
pimp during the February 2017 Super Bowl in NRG Park's parking lot and
surrounding hotels, to working with NTZ and the HCSO Task Force at NRG
Park to combat the very crime that once ensnared me. I've had the
privilege of working with the White House and Members of Congress,
training and educating thousands across the country, and now sit before
you today to put a face to this crime and remind you why we do what we
do.
Victims of sex trafficking, including myself, come face to face
with some of the darkest and most corrupt and demon-possessed
individuals imaginable, violent offenders, buyers of the most
vulnerable, including children, pedophiles, kidnappers, murderers, and
psychopaths. In trafficking, you see the depth of evil and terror human
beings are capable of inflicting on one another.
One heartbreaking incident I will never forget occurred just hours
after I physically ran for my life following nearly 3 years of being
trafficked. I was reunited with my family. As surreal as that moment
was, I remember seeing my dad running toward me in the airport
terminal, only for him to run right past me. He did not recognize his
own daughter. I was so severely emaciated and badly injured that I was
truly unrecognizable.
Less than 2 weeks later, I met one of the most remarkable leaders
and fathers who had been searching for me and praying for my safe
return home: Congressman Michael McCaul. I went from being one of his
constituents to being groomed and sex trafficked from my high school in
his district. I will never forget Congressman McCaul and my angel
Larissa Plunto coming to check on me, sitting with me, talking with me,
and listening to me for hours at my childhood church. He can attest to
both my profound physical and psychological scars. But I was alive, and
I was finally home.
I remember wondering if it was real, could I truly be here, telling
the Congressman about what I had just escaped from after narrowly
surviving? That is how immensely blessed I feel to be sitting before
you today. I am blessed. I am a child of God. I am a miracle. I
escaped. But so many others have not, or have lost their lives to this
evil.
At times, the enemy tries to burden me with survivor's guilt, but
God reminds me to look the devil in the face and declare: ``You
intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is
now being done, the saving of many lives'' (Genesis 50:20). This truth
reflects God's sovereignty and His ability to transform human evil and
suffering into divine purpose. We must lead by example, as He does,
through forgiveness, redemption, and hope.
Like many victims, my traffickers threatened my life countless
times and threatened my family, especially if I ever left or told the
truth about what they did to me and the other girls. They destroy lives
and families and lead through intimidation and fear. My traffickers
even told me they were my God, as many traffickers operate with a
delusional savior complex. Contrary to what traffickers program victims
to believe, it is only by grace through faith that we are saved
(Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is God's unconditional favor, love, and
power, a gift that cannot be earned.
I thought I had accepted Jesus into my heart when I was younger,
yet it was in the depths of true hell that God met me exactly where I
was. My Heavenly Father was the only one who could reach me in my most
sunken place. He was with me in the pit (With a Lion On A Snowy Day),
teaching me to unlearn fear, face it, and run for my life, to reclaim
my voice and my future.
I stand before you today not bearing the outward appearance of the
horrors I endured. Because of the blood of Yeshua, I am reborn, no
longer made in my traffickers' image, but in His. This is the true
nature of the battle we face if we hope to eradicate human trafficking
in our nation and world. As Scripture reminds us: ``Be strong in the
Lord and in His mighty power . . . For our struggle is not against
flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and spiritual
forces of evil'' (Ephesians 6:10-13).
Therefore, just as God saved and spoke to me, I urge you to put on
the full armor of God. Do not be afraid. Victims need to know they are
not alone. We all fall short of His glory, I know I do, but His grace
and mercy are SUFFICENT.
As echoed in my beloved favorite story, The Count of Monte Cristo,
after anguish and captivity, the realization comes that God's justice
and vengeance is far greater than our own. In the end, the declaration
is clear and I believe it with all of my heart and soul: ``God will
give me justice.''
closing remarks
Human trafficking at large and at mass gatherings and events is not
inevitable, it is preventable and combatable.
When we treat sports and entertainment venues as trafficking
markets, build and inform task forces, collaborate with Federal law
enforcement, integrate intelligence, and center survivor leadership, we
move from awareness to action and from reaction to prevention.
Let us all work together and hold stakeholders accountable to the
best of our abilities in order to make FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl,
the Olympics, and all mass gatherings--No Trafficking Zones!
Thank you for letting me share my heart with you all and for your
leadership and your commitment to addressing what truly is a scourge
against humanity.
God Bless.
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Mr. McCaul. Thank you, Courtney. As an eyewitness to the
scars of your survivorship, I can't tell you how proud I am of
who you have become.
I next recognize Ms. Vafa for 5 minutes to summarize her
opening statement.
STATEMENT OF YASMIN VAFA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RIGHTS4GIRLS
Ms. Vafa. Thank you, Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Pou,
and Members of the task force for the opportunity to speak
today. My name is Yasmin Vafa. I'm the executive director of
Rights4Girls, a national organization dedicated to ending
violence against young women and girls. We work alongside
survivors to strengthen laws, advance research, train judges
and systems professionals, and shift the culture that enables
exploitation.
This hearing could not be more timely. In the coming years,
the United States will host some of the world's largest
sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup and the Summer
Olympics. These events bring complex security challenges and,
among them, human trafficking must be a chief concern.
Sex trafficking exists today in every community: rural,
suburban, Tribal, and urban. Vulnerable people, primarily women
and children, are bought and sold with near total impunity. A
recent New York Times investigation exposed the brutal reality
on Los Angeles's Figueroa Street where child sex trafficking
persists openly. Girls like Ana, who was first trafficked here
at 13 alongside her 11-year-old sister. Today at 19, missing
her front teeth and living with an ostomy bag, Ana is still
forced to meet a daily quota or face violent punishment. Her
story reflects the trauma endured by countless women and girls
in the sex trade.
The data is stark. Over 90 percent of women report being
shot, raped, strangled, or beaten, often by sex buyers. They
face a mortality rate 200 times higher than the general
population, and 68 percent suffer PTSD at levels comparable to
combat veterans. These harms predate and outlast any special
event. But when you add an influx of tourists, anonymity, and
large numbers of men with disposable income, the risk of
trafficking intensifies.
Major events create a perfect storm: increased hotel
bookings, rentals, ride shares, and festivities, along with the
surge in the commercial sex market. While sex buying happens
every day, large events concentrate demand, making exploitation
easier and more profitable. History bears this out. During one
Final Four weekend in Minneapolis, law enforcement arrested 47
men for felony solicitation of a child, 11 for trafficking, and
recovered 28 victims, including 1 child. During an MLB All-Star
game in Cleveland, 49 people were arrested, including 28 men
seeking sex with children. Before Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta,
26 traffickers and 34 men attempting to buy sex with children
were arrested and several children recovered. The pattern is
unmistakable: where demand spikes, traffickers follow.
Recognizing this, Rights4Girls launched our Sex Buying
Isn't a Game national billboard campaign in 8 States hosting
the NCAA March Madness and MLB All-Star games. The campaign
exposes the often invisible role of sex buyers in fueling
trafficking and seeks to disrupt demand. During this year's
Final Four in San Antonio, while our campaign was running, 8
trafficking victims were recovered, underscoring the need for
proactive deterrence.
The sex trade is a multi-billion-dollar industry funded
entirely by buyers. Without buyers, there is no business. Our
recent report, Buyers Unmasked, analyzed hundreds of posts from
on-line hobby boards, essentially Yelp pages for prostitution,
and revealed a culture of dehumanization and entitlement that
traffickers rely on.
One survivor told us she spent 6 months at age 16 telling
every buyer she was being trafficked against her will. Not one
of them helped her. Every man prioritized his own protection or
the money he'd paid. This is the norm, not the exception. As
one buyer in our report stated, the goal is find them, F them,
forget them. This mindset is the invisible engine of
trafficking at mass gatherings.
If we're serious about preventing trafficking at major
events, our policies must address the true driver of this harm:
the demand created by sex buyers. To that end, we recommend,
No.1, targeting the demand. Prioritize deterrence operations
focused on buyers at large events as a form of trafficking
prevention. Mandate all Federally-funded programs to reduce
trafficking include demand reduction tactics.
No. 2, supporting survivors. Ensure all recovered victims,
children, and adults, are never criminalized and are
immediately connected to comprehensive trauma-informed
services.
No. 3, promoting accountability. Pass and enforce laws that
hold all exploiters accountable, using buyer fines to fund
services, mandating buyer accountability programs that shift
mindsets, and enhancing penalties against those driving the
trafficking market. This year we worked with survivors to pass
such laws in California and New Hampshire.
When the stadium lights dim and fans pour onto the streets,
no one should be treated as entertainment or sport. The
evidence is clear. The solutions are known. What remains is our
courage to act. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Ms. Vafa follows:]
Prepared Statement of Yasmin Vafa
December 17, 2025
Thank you, Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Pou, and Members of the
Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United
States, for inviting me to speak at this important hearing on human
trafficking at mass gatherings. My name is Yasmin Vafa and I am the
executive director of Rights4Girls, a national organization dedicated
to ending violence against vulnerable young women and girls in the
United States. We work alongside survivors to strengthen State and
Federal laws, advance research, provide training to judges and systems
professionals, and conduct public awareness campaigns to dismantle the
conditions that enable exploitation. Our mission is simple: to ensure
every girl can grow up safe and free from violence.
This hearing could not be more timely. Over the next several years,
the United States will host some of the world's largest sporting
events--including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Summer Olympics in
Los Angeles, and the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. These events bring
complex security challenges, and among them, the humanitarian crisis of
human trafficking must be a chief concern.
trafficking is already here--and happens with impunity
Sex trafficking is not a distant threat that appears only during
major events. It exists today in every community across this country--
rural, suburban, Tribal, and urban. Vulnerable people, primarily women
and children, are bought and sold for profit and pleasure, often with
near-total impunity. A recent New York Times investigation exposed the
brutal reality on Los Angeles's Figueroa Street, where child sex
trafficking persists openly.\1\ Girls like Ana, who was first
trafficked on Figueroa at age 13 alongside her 11-year-old sister.
Today, at 19--missing her front teeth and living with an ostomy bag--
she is still forced to meet a $1,200 daily quota or face violent
punishment at the hands of her exploiter.\2\ Her story reflects the
trauma endured by countless women and girls in the sex trade. The data
is stark:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Can Anyone Rescue the Trafficked Girls of L.A.'s Figueroa
Street?, N.Y. Times (Oct. 26, 2025), https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/
26/magazine/sex-trafficking-girls-la-figueroa.html.
\2\ Ibid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over 90 percent of women in the sex trade report being shot,
raped, strangled, or beaten--often at the hands of sex
buyers.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Jody Raphael and Katie Feifer, ``Get the Facts: What We Know
about Sex Trafficking, Sexual Exploitation, and Prostitution in the
United States,'' (World Without Exploitation, January 2020), https://
www.equalitymodelus.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Get-the-Facts-
January-2020.pdf.
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They face a mortality rate 200 times higher than the general
population.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ John J. Potterat et al., ``Mortality in a Long-term Open Cohort
of Prostitute Women,'' American Journal of Epidemiology, 159, no. 8
(April 15, 2004): 778-85, https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwh110.
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68 percent suffer PTSD at levels comparable to combat
veterans.\5\
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\5\ Melissa Farley et al., ``Prostitution and Trafficking in Nine
Countries: An Update on Violence and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder,''
Journal of Trauma Practice 2, no. 3-4 (2004): 33-74, https://doi.org/
10.1300/J189v02n03_03.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
These harms predate and outlast any special event. But when you add
the mass influx of tourists, temporary anonymity, and large numbers of
men with disposable income, the risk of trafficking and exploitation
intensifies dramatically.
major events create a temporary market where trafficking thrives
Events like the World Cup, Olympics, March Madness, or the Super
Bowl create a perfect storm: increased hotel bookings, short-term
rentals, ride shares, and festivities--along with a surge in the
commercial sex market. While sex buying happens daily across America,
major events concentrate the demand, making exploitation easier and
more profitable.
History bears this out:
During one Final Four weekend in Minneapolis, law
enforcement arrested 47 men for felony solicitation of a minor,
11 for trafficking or promoting prostitution, and recovered 28
trafficking victims, including a child.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Twin Cities-area
child sex trafficking sting nets 47 arrests during `Final Four' weekend
(Apr. 10, 2019), https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/twin-cities-area-
child-sex-trafficking-sting-nets-47-arrests-during-final-four.
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During an MLB All-Star Game in Cleveland, 49 people were
arrested, including 28 men seeking sex with children.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Associated Press, Authorities: 49 arrests on sex counts during
All-Star week (Jul. 11, 2019), https://apnews.com/general-news-
a41d30bce6c149a1abfde006224853fb.
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Before Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, 26 traffickers and 34 men
attempting to buy sex with children were arrested, and multiple
child victims were recovered.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ Federal Bureau of Investigations, FBI announces results of
human trafficking operation for Super Bowl LIII (Feb. 5, 2019), https:/
/www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/atlanta/news/press-releases/fbi-
announces-results-of-human-trafficking-operation-for-sbliii.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Phoenix in 2023, police made roughly 50 felony arrests
tied to trafficking during Super Bowl LVI.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ AZ Central, Sex trafficking sting operation in Arizona during
Super Bowl leads to multiple arrests (Feb. 26, 2023), https://
www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/02/26/multiple-arrests-
made-in-sex-trafficking-sting-during-super-bowl/69942519007/.
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The pattern is unmistakable: where demand spikes, traffickers
follow.
addressing the real driver: demand
Recognizing the clear link between sex buying and exploitation,
Rights4Girls launched our Sex Buying Isn't a Game national billboard
campaign in 8 States hosting the NCAA March Madness games and MLB All-
Star Game. The campaign exposes the often invisible role of sex buyers
in fueling sex trafficking and seeks to disrupt demand. During the 2025
NCAA Final Four in San Antonio--while our campaign was running--8
trafficking victims were recovered,\10\ underscoring the need for
proactive awareness and deterrence--and illustrating what can be
accomplished when NGO's, the media, and law enforcement come together.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ Associated Press, Human Trafficking in San Antonio During
Final Four a Real Problem, Officials Say, KENS 5 (Apr. 6, 2018),
https://www.kens5.com/article/news/crime/final-four-human-trafficking-
san-antonio-arrests/273-6f774742-f1e6-4856-83cf-3d2becb7bff4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We must remember: the sex trade is a multi-billion-dollar industry
funded entirely by sex buyers. Without buyers, there is no business.
Our recent report, Buyers Unmasked, analyzed hundreds of posts from on-
line hobby boards--essentially Yelp pages for prostitution--and reveals
a culture of dehumanization, indifference, and entitlement that
traffickers rely on.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ Rights4Girls, Buyers Unmasked: Exposing the Men Who Buy Sex &
Solutions to End Exploitation (Jan. 2025), https://rights4girls.org/wp-
content/uploads/2025/02/Buyers-Unmasked-02122025.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
One survivor told us she spent 6 months at age 16 trying to tell
her buyers she was being trafficked against her will. Not one buyer
helped her. Every man prioritized his own protection or the money he
had already paid.
This is the norm--not the exception.
As one buyer in our report openly stated, the goal is: ``Find them,
f* them, forget them. This is the gold standard for men's spiritual
health.''\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ Ibid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This mindset is the invisible engine of trafficking at mass
gatherings.
policy must focus on the source of the harm
If we are serious about preventing trafficking during major
events--and year-round--our policies must address the true driver of
this harm: the demand created by sex buyers.
To that end, we recommend:
1. Target the Demand
Prioritize deterrence operations focused on sex buyers during large
events as a form of trafficking and violence prevention. To
ensure the prevention of sex trafficking year-round, we must
mandate that all Federally-funded programs to reduce human
trafficking include demand reduction tactics. We have seen the
success of these approaches in other jurisdictions across the
United States and the globe.
2. Support Survivors
Ensure that recovered victims are never criminalized and are
immediately connected to comprehensive, trauma-informed
services, whether they be children or adults. We must remember
that many of the adults in the sex trade today, are the child
sex trafficking victims of yesterday who have merely come of
age in this industry and are in need of the same services and
support.
3. Promote Accountability
Pass and enforce laws that hold all exploiters accountable, both
sex buyers and traffickers--using buyer fines to fund survivor
services, mandating buyer accountability programs that shift
mindsets and culture, and enhancing penalties against those
driving the sex trafficking market. It is crucial to hold all
exploiters accountable for the devastating harm they inflict on
victims and our communities.
Just this year, Rights4Girls worked with survivors and partners to
pass laws in States like California \13\ and New Hampshire \14\
increasing penalties on buyers and generating funding for
survivors. The models exist. What we need now is the political
will to implement them.
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\13\ California AB 379, https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB379/id/
3263490.
\14\ New Hampshire SB 267, https://legiscan.com/NH/text/SB267/id/
3159427.
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a call to action
When the stadium lights dim and fans pour into the streets, no
woman, no child, and no member of the surrounding community should be
treated as entertainment or collateral damage.
These global events present an opportunity--not only to protect
potential victims, but to expose the reality of sex-buying and the role
it plays in fueling this multi-billion-dollar industry. Our report,
Buyers Unmasked, lays bare the attitudes and actions of sex buyers in
their own words. Their statements shatter the false narrative that
buying sex is a victimless act. What emerges instead is a pattern of
misogyny, dehumanization, and deliberate disregard for signs of
coercion, vulnerability, and desperation.
The evidence is clear. The solutions are known. What remains is our
courage to act.
Thank you for your attention and your commitment to protecting the
most vulnerable among us.
Mr. McCaul. Ms. Vafa, let me just comment as well. As a
former Federal prosecutor, for too long the victims were
treated as the criminals and not the criminals. I think we have
changed that to a large extent. Thank you for offering that. We
need to continue to raise that awareness.
The Chairman now recognizes Ms. McCoy for 5 minutes.
STATEMENT OF ELIZA McCOY, VICE PRESIDENT, PROGRAMS & IMPACT,
AMERICAN HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION
Ms. McCoy. Good afternoon, Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member
Pou, and distinguished Members of the Task Force. Thank you for
the opportunity to testify today on the lodging industry's
efforts to prevent human trafficking as we prepare for major
events that will draw millions of international visitors to the
United States.
My name is Eliza McCoy and I serve as vice president of
programs and impact at the American Hotel and Lodging
Association Foundation, where I lead our human trafficking
awareness and prevention initiatives. I'm proud to be here
today with valuable partners from the National Sheriff's
Association, Rights4Girls, Polaris, and No Trafficking Zone,
many of whom I've worked with previously.
Before joining AHLA, I spent more than 15 years in law
enforcement and nonprofit leadership, focused on public safety
and child protection. As an investigator in a District
Attorney's Office, and later leading outreach, training, and
prevention efforts at the National Center for Missing Exploited
Children, I've seen the devastating realities of this crime up
close. I've devoted my career to this issue and to helping
survivors overcome their trauma. Now I have the privilege of
working for an industry where preventing human trafficking is
both a core value and a collective effort.
With the United States set to host the FIFA World Cup,
America 250, the Summer Olympics and Paralympics, as well as
other major events over the next few years, we face both a
challenge and an opportunity. Large events often draw attention
to human trafficking, but more importantly, they represent a
critical moment to turn heightened awareness into long-term
strategies that protect vulnerable people year-round, not just
during major gatherings. We can show on the world stage how our
actions are leading a human trafficking response and
prevention, both nation-wide and across the globe.
In 2019, the lodging industry came together to launch No
Room for Trafficking, a comprehensive initiative developed in
partnership with our member companies, dedicated leaders, law
enforcement partners, and expert organizations. For the last 5
years, this national initiative has translated that commitment
into action with shared goals and standards aligned with best
practices in the anti-trafficking field.
Our mission is threefold: elevate awareness of human
trafficking, educate lodging employees to identify and report
it, and equip survivors with the support they need to thrive. A
cornerstone of this initiative is a tailored training program
developed by Marriott International in collaboration with
expert NGO's, which we make available for use across the
industry. Since 2020, this training has been completed more
than 2.5 million times. It's provided at no cost to any hotel
employee or interested individual and is offered in 34
different languages, ensuring that workers at every property
can receive this important education from resorts to motels.
Our message is clear. We are dedicated to the safety of our
communities where we all work and live.
To maximize the impact of these upcoming events and build
lasting change, we recommend three key actions. First, support
consistent standards for training and anti-trafficking policies
not just in the lodging industry, but across all sectors,
ensuring no weak links and prevention efforts. The lodging
industry's anti-trafficking commitment can model for other
industries how collective action creates stronger safeguards
and better outcomes.
Second, support streamlined reporting processes that
effectively leverage the resources of both law enforcement and
survivor advocacy organizations.
Third, invest more government and community resources in
long-term solutions, including emergency housing for victims
and specialized law enforcement units to strengthen community
readiness for years to come. With these improvements in place,
the lodging industry can remain a strong and reliable partner
in anti-trafficking efforts nationwide.
Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Pou, and Members of the
task force, thank you for your leadership and for this
opportunity. The American lodging industry is fully committed
to continuing to lead in the effort to stop human trafficking.
I'm proud to represent an industry that confronts this
difficult issue head on with resolve and compassion.
The lodging industry continues at the ready to work hand-
in-hand with this task force, DHS, DOJ, local law enforcement,
and NGO's to ensure these milestone events are remembered for
sportsmanship and national unity. As we approach the kickoff of
these major events, we stand united with law enforcement,
survivor support organizations, and policy makers to protect
the vulnerable and demonstrate U.S. leadership in preventing
human trafficking on a global stage. We are doing our part to
end trafficking for good and stand at the ready to help our
communities meet the moment. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Ms. McCoy follows:]
Prepared Statement of Eliza McCoy
December 17, 2025
introduction
Good morning, Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Pou, and
distinguished Members of the task force. Thank you for the opportunity
to testify on the lodging industry's efforts to prevent human
trafficking as we prepare for major events that will draw millions of
visitors to the United States. My name is Eliza McCoy, and I serve as
vice president of programs and impact at the American Hotel & Lodging
Association Foundation (AHLAF). In this role, I lead AHLA's human
trafficking awareness and prevention initiatives.
Prior to joining AHLA, I served for over 15 years in law
enforcement and nonprofit leadership focused on child safety and anti-
trafficking programs. As an investigator in the Manhattan District
Attorney's Office, and later leading outreach, training, and prevention
efforts at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, I have
seen how criminals exploit victims and the lives they shatter, and I
have devoted my career to helping victims overcome their trauma. I have
the privilege of working for the hotel industry where preventing human
trafficking is a core value and a collective effort across the
industry.
It is an honor to appear before you today to discuss how the hotel
and lodging sector is proactively preventing human trafficking and
collaborating with government partners, industry leaders, law
enforcement, victims' rights organizations, and survivors of
trafficking to secure our communities ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the
2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the Paralympics, and the America 250
celebrations.
ahla and the ahla foundation
The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) is the unified
voice of America's hotels, representing every segment of the lodging
sector, from family-owned inns and franchises to iconic global brands
and real estate investment trusts. The AHLA Foundation is the national
charitable affiliate of AHLA, dedicated to advancing the lodging
industry's role as a force for good in communities across the country.
I am proud to share with you that there is no cause more universally
embraced by our member companies than anti-human trafficking efforts.
The AHLA Foundation is the national leader in the hotel industry's
efforts against human trafficking, working to equip every property and
every employee with the training, tools, and support needed to identify
and prevent this heinous crime. AHLAF drives the industry's commitment
to safety, security, and responsibility through its flagship No Room
for Trafficking (NRFT) initiative, survivor support funding, and a wide
network of public- and private-sector partnerships.
In addition to this critical prevention work, the Foundation
advances the economic and social well-being of the lodging workforce
through career development programs, research, education, and community
investment. Guided by strong collaboration across hotel brands,
ownership groups, service providers, and government agencies, the
Foundation creates pathways to meaningful careers, builds safer
hospitality environments, and reinforces the industry's role as a
trusted partner in every community it serves.
ahla foundation's ``no room for trafficking'' initiative
In 2019, the AHLA Foundation, in partnership with our member
companies, dedicated leaders, law enforcement partners, and expert
organizations, launched the ``No Room for Trafficking'' (NRFT)
initiative as a comprehensive, industry-wide program to train hotel
employees to identify the signs of trafficking and to report activity
to the proper authorities.\1\ No Room for Trafficking sends a loud and
clear message: we do not tolerate trafficking in hotels.\2\ The
national program unites the entire hotel sector behind shared goals and
standards. NRFT's mission is to: (1) elevate the issue of human
trafficking and industry efforts to prevent it; (2) educate industry
employers and employees to identify and report suspected trafficking in
hotels and communities nationwide, and; (3) empower survivors with the
support they need to thrive.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ AHLA Foundation, No Room for Trafficking (NRFT), AHLA
Foundation, https://www.ahlafoundation.org/nrft/.
\2\ PACT, Hotel Industry Unites on New Campaign to Fight Human
Trafficking (June 26, 2019), PACT, https://www.wearepact.org/blog/2019/
6/26/hotel-industry-unites-on-new-campaign-to-fight-human-trafficking.
\3\ AHLA Foundation, No Room for Trafficking (NRFT), AHLA
Foundation, https://www.ahlafoundation.org/nrft/.
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Critically, AHLAF provides members with free, practical tools
including: accessible training for employers and employees, model anti-
trafficking policies, indicator signage, and a comprehensive Member
Resource Guide detailing how to implement training, establish reporting
protocols, and connect with law enforcement and victim service
providers.\4\ We also formed strategic partnerships with leading anti-
trafficking and child protection groups including ECPAT-USA (now PACT),
Polaris, and Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) to ensure
our materials reflect best practices and to coordinate our industry
training with broader national efforts. Additionally, the Foundation
has worked closely with the Department of Homeland Security's Blue
Campaign, which has identified hospitality as a critical front-line
sector for trafficking detection.\5\ Over many years, we have
collaborated with DHS to promote the Blue Campaign's Hospitality
Toolkit, including multilingual posters, indicator cards, and response
protocols tailored for hotels, and we proudly participate in DHS's
annual #WearBlueDay awareness initiative each January during National
Human Trafficking Prevention Month.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ PACT, Recognize the Signs (training course), PACT, https://
courses.wearepact.org/recognize-the-signs.
\5\ American Hotel & Lodging Association, Human Trafficking
Prevention Partners, AHLA, https://www.ahla.com/news/human-trafficking-
prevention-partners.
\6\ AHLA Foundation, AHLA & AHLA Foundation Honor National Human
Trafficking Prevention Month; Announce Major Survivor Fund Donation,
AHLA Foundation, https://www.ahlafoundation.org/ahla-ahla-foundation-
honor-national-human-trafficking-prevention-month-announce-major-
survivor-fund-donation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
These partnerships underscore that our industry's approach is
holistic and aligned with Federal efforts: every level of our
organizations, from corporate headquarters to front-desk staff, is
engaged in recognizing the signs of trafficking and responding in
concert with law enforcement.
training and impact
A cornerstone of No Room for Trafficking is a free, comprehensive
and tailored training program available to all hotel employees,
developed in collaboration with Marriott International and PACT. The
flagship course, ``Your Role in Preventing Human Trafficking: Recognize
the Signs,'' can be taken on-line or delivered in-person and is
designed to integrate seamlessly into hotel training systems. To
maximize accessibility, it is offered in dozens of languages and
formats, ensuring that employees at every property, from luxury resorts
to roadside motels, can receive this critical education.
Since 2020, this training, provided at no cost to any hotel
associate or interested party, has been completed more than 2.5 million
times, an unprecedented scale of reach made possible by industry-wide
commitment and unwavering support. Each of those completions means
another set of eyes and ears on the ground, better equipped to identify
potential trafficking and act swiftly.
One powerful example of the impact of employee awareness occurred
at a hotel in Los Angeles. A young woman in a lobby bathroom told the
hotel's staff she was being held against her will. Trained employees
immediately assessed the circumstances and recalled the indicators they
had learned through the No Room for Trafficking program. They acted
decisively and helped a victim when she needed it most.
To ensure training translates into action, the NRFT initiative also
emphasizes on-going awareness and continuous improvement. AHLA
distributes ``back-of-house'' signage, discreet posters for employee-
only areas, that list common trafficking indicators and the hotline
number to report suspected trafficking.\7\ Hotels display these in
break rooms and housekeeping closets as daily reminders that staff are
on the front lines to help save lives.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ AHLA Foundation, No Room for Trafficking Member Resource Guide,
AHLA Foundation (PDF), https://www.ahla.com/sites/default/files/
NRFT%20Member%20Resource%20Guide.pdf.
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Each year, AHLAF hosts an NRFT Summit, which convenes hotel
executives, security directors, operations leaders, survivors, law
enforcement leaders, and experts to share best practices and emerging
trends.\8\ These meetings, alongside year-round webinars and regional
events, create a platform for continuous learning to enhance our
industry's awareness and protocols. Our message, reinforced from the
boardroom to the break room, is that every hotel employee can help in
the fight against trafficking, and together we are making our hotels
inhospitable to traffickers, while protecting guests, employees, and
local communities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ AHLA Foundation, No Room for Trafficking Summit 2025, AHLA
Foundation, https://www.ahlafoundation.org/event/no-room-for-
trafficking-summit-2025.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
the nrft survivor fund
In addition to prevention efforts, the lodging industry also
invests considerably in support for those who have survived this
terrible crime. We know that identifying a victim in a hotel is only
the first step; true success means that person can escape their
trafficker and rebuild their life with dignity. That is why in 2022,
the AHLA Foundation expanded its efforts by establishing the No Room
For Trafficking Survivor Fund, an industry-wide program devoted to
supporting human-trafficking survivors through leading community-based
organizations nationwide.\9\ In my role at the AHLA Foundation, I have
the privilege of administering this fund, which provides grants that
deliver long-term support and economic empowerment for survivors. The
NRFT Survivor Fund was launched with contributions from major hotel
companies and has quickly grown into a multi-million-dollar resource.
There is no greater moral cause for hoteliers than preventing human
trafficking and supporting its victims, and I am proud of the impact we
are having on the lives of these incredible people.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ American Hotel & Lodging Association, AHLA Statement on Human
Trafficking Awareness Training and Recognition Act, AHLA, https://
www.ahla.com/news/ahla-statement-human-trafficking-awareness-training-
recognition-act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since the inception of the fund, we have distributed millions of
dollars in grants to various organizations which provide direct
resources to help survivors move from crisis toward stability, from
safe housing and child care, to counseling, job readiness, and
preparation for sustainable employment. These are tangible outcomes
that change lives. The grants have helped to support more than 3,200
survivors in 18 States across the country. Some of those individuals
are now employed in hospitality, starting new careers in a trauma-
informed environment. The Survivor Fund has created an unprecedented
platform for collaboration in support of survivors. We are not only
training our own employees to spot trafficking; we are investing in the
long-term well-being of survivors, helping them find stability and
employment, including in our sector. This holistic approach, combining
prevention with survivor support, is how the lodging industry is
striving to break the cycle of trafficking.
trafficking risks during major events and industry preparation
The United States is set to host the FIFA World Cup, the Nation's
semiquincentennial celebration, America 250, and the Summer Olympic and
Paralympic Games in Los Angeles over the next couple of years. These
events will showcase the best of America. However, as this Task Force
recognizes, they also pose unique security challenges, and human
trafficking is among the threats that demand our vigilance. Sporting
events and mass gatherings can attract illicit business, including
commercial sex trafficking.\10\ Traffickers are opportunistic: they
seek to capitalize on the surge of travelers and the relative anonymity
of crowded venues and hotels.\11\ However, while major events often
draw attention to human trafficking, focusing solely on a single day
obscures the fact that this is a year-round problem. The same
traffickers active during big sporting events continue their crimes
long after the games end. Large events, including the World Cup and
Olympics, tend to spark heightened concern and law enforcement action,
but trafficking is not necessarily driven by these events, it simply
becomes more visible.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ Polaris, The Super Bowl Myth (Feb. 2016), Polaris, https://
polarisproject.org/blog/2016/02/the-super-bowl-myth/.
\11\ Id.
\12\ Sebastien Malo, Is the Super Bowl Really the U.S.'s Biggest
Sex Trafficking Magnet?, Reuters (Feb. 1, 2018), https://
www.reuters.com/article/world/is-the-super-bowl-really-the-uss-biggest-
sex-trafficking-magnet-idUSKBN1FL6A0/.
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The heightened focus on trafficking during large events must be
channeled into effective, lasting solutions rather than short-term
alarm. Polaris, which operated the National Human Trafficking Hotline
for the past 18 years, emphasizes that portraying a single event as
``the largest trafficking incident'' can be misleading, the reality is
that trafficking is a 365-day-a-year problem that exists in every city
and every State, before, during, and after the event.\13\ Major events
are a critical opportunity to strengthen our long-term anti-trafficking
infrastructure. They can also leverage the intense public attention to
drive sustainable improvements, better data collection on trafficking,
enhanced coordination among agencies, and addressing underlying
vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ Id.
\14\ Polaris, World Cup 2026: An Opportunity to Lead on Human
Trafficking (June 2022), Polaris, https://polarisproject.org/blog/2022/
06/world-cup-2026-an-opportunity-to-lead-on-human-trafficking/.
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The hotel industry is embracing this approach. Well in advance of
many major events, AHLA and our partners work to ensure heightened
readiness on the ground, while integrating anti-trafficking planning
into the broader security strategy. Over the past several years, AHLAF
has engaged with event committees and NGO's. We have teamed up with
major brands and leading international organizations for several past
Super Bowls to ensure property-level teams are trained and ready in
advance of these events.\15\ The initiatives have brought together
hoteliers, local law enforcement, and survivor advocates to raise
awareness and distribute educational materials to prepare the host
city.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ AHLA Foundation, AHLA & AHLA Foundation Honor National Human
Trafficking Prevention Month; Announce Major Survivor Fund Donation,
AHLA Foundation (last visited Dec. 5, 2025), https://
www.ahlafoundation.org/ahla-ahla-foundation-honor-national-human-
trafficking-prevention-month-announce-major-survivor-fund-donation/.
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Similarly, over the last 18 months, we have worked with State and
local governments and law enforcement agencies to implement mandatory
human trafficking training laws.
Currently, more than a dozen States mandate hotel employees receive
human trafficking awareness training, and we are working with others to
offer our collaboration, technical assistance and industry-wide
networks to support the on-going planning for 2026 World Cup cities and
the LA28 Olympics.
Several of our member companies are also active participants in
global efforts, including serving the FIFA Human Rights Advisory
Council, reinforcing the industry's long-standing commitment to
prevention and victim protection. AHLA is proudly working directly with
the intergovernmental World Cup Task Force to ensure Federal
stakeholders are aware of, and able to utilize, existing hotel-industry
training and resources, and we remain ready to support coordinated,
industry-wide collaboration with local agencies in each host city.
Hotels are also taking proactive steps to help prevent human
trafficking and support victims. In addition to mandatory training for
staff, our members provide emergency housing for victims, donate space
for proactive law enforcement operations, and actively engage with
local governments and service providers to strengthen response efforts.
Many hotel companies also implement enhanced measures during high-risk
periods, including refresher trainings and pre-event briefings,
increased security presence, stricter guest-verification protocols,
coordination with local police task forces and the FBI, and widespread
dissemination of the National Human Trafficking Hotline across employee
and public areas. These combined actions reflect the industry's
commitment to safeguarding guests, employees, and communities year-
round, not only during marquee events.
The lodging industry is fully committed to working hand-in-hand
with this Task Force, DHS, DOJ, local law enforcement, and NGO's so
that these milestone events are remembered for sportsmanship and
national unity. We see the upcoming years as a crucial opportunity to
demonstrate U.S. leadership in combating trafficking on a global stage.
challenges and recommendations
The hospitality industry plays a front-line role in preventing and
detecting human trafficking, yet several operational and structural
challenges persist. Training and vigilance vary significantly across
alternative lodging types, which often lack the same safeguards and
expectations placed on traditional hotels. Even when warning signs are
identified, response pathways are not always clear, as many properties
lack streamlined coordination with law enforcement and survivor-support
organizations. This gap can delay responses, create confusion, and
limit aid. Similarly, communities frequently lack year-round survivor
support infrastructure such as safe housing and specialized
investigative teams, creating vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit
long after a major event ends.
To address these challenges, we recommend adopting consistent,
industry-wide standards for training and anti-trafficking policies
across all lodging providers, ensuring no weak links in prevention
efforts. Hotels should be supported with a clear and streamlined
reporting process that effectively leverages the resources of both law
enforcement and survivor advocacy organizations. Finally, long-term
capacity building, including investment in emergency housing and
specialized law enforcement units, will strengthen community readiness
throughout the year, not only during high-profile events. With these
improvements in place, the lodging industry can remain a strong and
reliable partner in preventing trafficking, protecting victims, and
supporting prosecution of offenders before exploitation takes root.
conclusion
Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Pou, and Members of the task force,
thank you for the opportunity to share my perspectives on human
trafficking prevention with you today. The American hotel industry is
fully committed to setting the national standard in the effort to stop
human trafficking. I am proud to represent an industry that is
confronting this difficult issue head-on with resolve and compassion.
As we approach the World Cup, America 250, and the Olympics, we
continue to stand united with law enforcement, survivor support
organizations, and policy makers to ensure these memorable events are
not exploited by those who would prey on the vulnerable. Hotels are a
key part of the solution to protect our guests, our employees, and our
communities. Thank you for your leadership on this critical issue.
Mr. McCaul. Thank you, Ms. McCoy.
I now recognize Ms. Lundstrom for 5 minutes, who also is a
victim of human trafficking, for your opening statement.
STATEMENT OF MEAGAN LUNDSTROM, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, POLARIS
Ms. Lundstrom. Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Pou, and
Members of the task force, thank you for the opportunity to
testify today. My testimony is grounded in my own lived
experience as a survivor, data and intelligence, and what our
systems teach us when we are willing to listen.
As the United States prepares to host major global events,
the FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games, and America 250, the
question before us is not whether trafficking occurs because it
already does. The question is whether our response reduces harm
and ends cycles of abuse or if we're going to repeat past
mistakes. You see, we've seen this before. After Super Bowl
LIII in Atlanta, I analyzed publicly available arrest and
booking data from the operations around the event. Publicly,
the response was described as a success. More than 65 Federal,
State, and local agencies, 169 arrests, dramatic headlines, and
stories of rescue.
But the data told a different story. Half of the arrests
were vulnerable and victimized women, while fewer than 10
percent were traffickers. Fourteen of the women were arrested
even when indicators of victimization were present in their
booking records. Victims were identified and still taken into
custody, some alongside the very traffickers exploiting them.
Enforcement focused heavily on individuals selling sex, while
buyers and traffickers, almost entirely men, were far less
likely to face serious or lasting consequences, including the
startling reality that one-third of the men arrested on
trafficking charges were released on their own recognizance
within days. In other words, we knew who the victims were and
who their perpetrators were, and we didn't treat them as such.
Since 2019, Georgia has only seen a total of 4 Federally-
prosecuted human trafficking cases involving adult sex
trafficking victims, despite the scale of enforcement activity
around that single major event. Of those 4 cases, 2 were
dismissed and 1 got 57 months and 1 was still pending at the
time of this analysis. Of the cases that were dismissed, one of
those traffickers was arrested again on new trafficking charges
and at that time finally got 130 months sentenced. This teaches
us an essential lesson. Arrest numbers alone are not a measure
of success in anti-trafficking efforts, nor are they an
efficient use of Federal or State funding and resources in and
of themselves.
History only repeats itself when institutions fail to
learn. The good news is, we've learned a lot. Historically, our
focus at major events has been entirely on sex trafficking.
That narrow lens has left a blind spot, labor trafficking.
Major events require rapid, temporary workforce expansion,
construction and tear down, hospitality, sanitation,
transportation, security. These jobs are often filled through
layers of subcontractors and labor brokers that obscure
responsibility and limit oversight, creating ideal conditions
for exploitation, wage theft, document confiscation, debt
bondage, and threats of retaliation.
Despite this known risk, one that the International Labor
Organization estimates is 5 times more prevalent than sex
trafficking, the United States has no national data on labor
trafficking indicators tied to major events. That gap does not
reflect a lack of prevalence. It reflects a missed opportunity
to identify victims and hold traffickers accountable. This is
where the Department of Homeland Security can play a decisive
role.
Labor trafficking is a crime of fraud and coercion. It
undermines lawful labor markets and allows bad actors to profit
with minimal risk. When DHS enforcement prioritizes identifying
traffickers rather than defaulting to arrest-based responses
toward exposure exploited workers, it improves intelligence,
strengthens cases, and restores system integrity.
The lesson from Atlanta is clear. Accountability is
strongest when enforcement is led by data and intelligence, and
investigations are driven by outcomes rather than headlines.
Anti-trafficking efforts must extend beyond the moment and
concept of a rescue. Criminal records remain one of the
greatest barriers to survivor stability, yet many survivors,
especially of labor trafficking, are excluded from relief. At
the Federal level, there is no clear mechanism to vacate
convictions tied to one's trafficking.
As Congress prepares for World Cup and other global events,
this is the moment to apply what we already know. Large events
test our systems. They reveal whether we choose learning over
repetition, accountability over optics, and justice over myth.
Polaris stands ready to support Congress and Federal agencies
in doing exactly that.
Thank you. I look forward to your questions.
[The prepared statement of Ms. Lundstrom follows:]
Prepared Statement of Megan Lundstrom
December 17, 2025
Dear Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Poe, and Members of the
committee--thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is
Megan Lundstrom, and I serve as the chief executive officer of Polaris,
a national nonprofit dedicated to ending sex and labor trafficking and
supporting victims and survivors on their journeys toward freedom. My
work, and the testimony I present today, reflect the intersection of
lived experience, data, and systems-level reform.
i. introduction
As the United States prepares to host major global events,
including the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, and America 250, it is
critical that Congress approaches human trafficking prevention with
precision. Large events do not create trafficking, but they do amplify
existing vulnerabilities, concentrate demand, and stress systems that
traffickers already exploit the weaknesses of.
Historically, conversations around human trafficking at major
events have focused almost exclusively on sex trafficking.\1\ That
narrow lens misses a substantial and predictable risk: labor
trafficking, particularly in temporary, outsourced, and subcontracted
work that supports these events. A comprehensive approach that
addresses both labor and sex trafficking protects families, strengthens
prosecutions, and ensures Federal resources achieve their intended
impact on this crime.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Gilmer, D. (2025). Trafficking and Large-Scale Events.
Routledge Handbook of Sport Security, 166.
\2\ Alliance to End Slavery & Trafficking. ``Presidental Priorities
for Ending Forced Labor, Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, 2025-
2029.'' https://endslaveryandtrafficking.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/
11/2025-29-Anti-trafficking-Transition-Recommendations-to-Trump-
Administration-FINAL.pdf.
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ii. labor trafficking at major events: a persistent and underexamined
harm
Labor trafficking remains the most under-identified and under-
enforced form of human trafficking in the United States, including in
the context of major events.\3\ The International Labor Organization
estimates that there are 24.9 million people globally experiencing
forced labor, and that there are 5 victims of labor trafficking for
every 1 victim of sex trafficking.\4\ Large-scale events require a
rapid and temporary expansion of the workforce in industries that are
consistently identified through enforcement actions and research as
higher risk for labor trafficking, including venue construction and
teardown; hospitality, food service, and concessions; janitorial,
sanitation, and waste services; groundskeeping, landscaping, and
security; and transportation and logistics. These positions are
frequently filled through multiple layers of subcontractors, labor
brokers, and staffing agencies--arrangements that obscure lines of
responsibility and enforcement and create conditions in which coercion,
wage theft, document confiscation, debt bondage, and threats of
retaliation can occur in environments where oversight is fragmented or
unclear.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Polaris. ``Recognizing Labor Trafficking.'' December 16, 2025.
https://polarisproject.org/labor-trafficking/.
\4\ International Labor Office. ``Global Estimates of Modern
Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage.'' 2017. https://
www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/@dgreports/@dcomm/
documents/publication/wcms_575479.pdf.
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Labor trafficking is a crime of exploitation and fraud.\5\
Traffickers deliberately target workers with limited job mobility
because it allows them to operate with low risk and high profits. The
Department of Homeland Security plays a critical role in disrupting
these schemes by ensuring that enforcement efforts identify and pursue
traffickers who abuse labor systems, commit fraud, and profit from
coercion. When labor trafficking indicators are recognized and acted
upon during enforcement activities, DHS strengthens worker protections,
restores the integrity of labor markets, and ensures that bad actors--
rather than exploited workers--are held accountable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Polaris. ``Recognizing Labor Trafficking.'' December 16, 2025.
https://polarisproject.org/labor-trafficking/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
iii. what the data from past major events shows
Despite well-documented risks, there is currently no comprehensive
national dataset tracking labor trafficking indicators tied to major
events. This absence of data does not reflect the absence of harm--it
reflects a missed opportunity. Large-scale events bring together
regulated industries, complex contracting chains, and temporary work
forces, creating a rare window to gather actionable intelligence,
identify patterns of exploitation, and strengthen prevention
strategies. The progress made in understanding sex trafficking around
major events provides a strong foundation; those same analytical,
interagency, and survivor-informed approaches can and should be
extended to labor trafficking as the next frontier of event-related
trafficking prevention.
The data from past major events make clear that this is not
uncharted territory. Extensive documentation from Super Bowl host
cities demonstrates both what works and what does not. Multi-year case
studies from the 2015 and 2016 Super Bowls show that proactive,
interagency, and multidisciplinary planning is most effective when it
begins early, centers survivor input, and coordinates law enforcement
with service providers and community organizations.\6\ These approaches
were associated with reduced crime displacement, improved victim
identification, and increased access to non-punitive services.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Shared Hope International. ``Promising Practices in Combatting
Juvenile Sex Trafficking Surrounding Large Events and Beyond.'' 2016.
https://sharedhope.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2016/08/
SHI_Case_Study_Super_Bowl_Outcome.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
At the same time, my 2019 analysis of Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta
highlights a critical caution: increased police activity results in
more arrests, but not necessarily improved identification of
trafficking or accountability for traffickers.\7\ In Atlanta, adult
women were arrested even when clear indicators of victimization were
present; survivors were charged alongside their traffickers; and
enforcement actions disproportionately focused on individuals selling
sex, while buyers and traffickers--all of them males--were far less
likely to face serious or lasting consequences. Public narratives in
the media framed these outcomes as ``rescues,'' yet the data reflected
continued criminalization of victims.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Megan Lundstrom. ``An Analysis of the 2019 Super Bowl.''
February, 2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This distinction is essential. Arrest numbers alone are not a proxy
for success, and absent survivor-centered, trauma-informed safeguards,
expanded enforcement risks replicating these harms at a much larger
scale during events such as the upcoming World Cup.
iv. accountability, not criminalization
An effective anti-trafficking strategy at major events must be
grounded in a clear principle: non-punishment.\8\ Traffickers should be
held accountable, and individuals experiencing exploitation should not
be criminalized.\9\ This requires avoiding default arrest-based
responses toward individuals in commercial sex and workers in
industries where labor trafficking indicators are present; embedding
victim advocates directly into operational planning and on-the-ground
responses; ensuring non-punitive access to local, low-barrier services,
including drop-in centers; and training patrol officers--not only
specialized units--to recognize indicators of human trafficking.
Survivor-centered, trauma-informed care is critical and should be
prioritized in any law enforcement activities.\10\ \11\ \12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ US Department of State. ``2025 Trafficking in Persons Report.''
https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/
\9\ Human Rights Watch. ``US: ICE Arrest at FIFA Event Spotlights
Dangers for World Cup.'' December 16, 2025. https://www.hrw.org/news/
2025/12/03/us-ice-arrest-at-fifa-event-spotlights-dangers-for-world-
cup.
\10\ Institute on Assets and Social Policy. ``Trauma-Informed Care
for Survivors of Human Trafficking: A State of the Field in 2019.''
https://heller.brandeis.edu/iere/pdfs/racial-wealth-equity/immigrant-
integration/trauma-informed-care-for-survivors-of-human-trafficking-a-
state-of-the-field-in-2019.pdf.
\11\ US Department of Justice. ``Trauma-Informed Care for Survivors
of Human Trafficking: A State of the Field in 2019.'' https://
www.ojp.gov/library/publications/trauma-informed-care-survivors-human-
trafficking-state-field-2019.
\12\ Center for Health Care Strategies. ``State and Federal Support
of Trauma-Informed Care: Sustaining the Momentum.'' September 27, 2017.
https://www.chcs.org/state-federal-support-trauma-informed-care-
sustaining-momentum/.
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Criminal records remain among the most significant barriers to
survivor stability and long-term recovery.\13\ While some States permit
vacatur or expungement for survivors of sex trafficking, many exclude
survivors of labor trafficking despite the presence of identical
coercive conditions.\14\ At the Federal level, there is currently no
mechanism for criminal record relief for trafficking survivors
convicted of Federal offenses, outside of a Presidential pardon. This
gap undermines survivor cooperation with law enforcement, impedes
recovery, and weakens the pursuit of justice. Congress should advance
statutory relief that applies to both labor and sex trafficking
survivors, covers Federal convictions, and recognizes crimes committed
as a direct result of trafficking. Absent such reforms, survivors
continue to face life-long penalties for crimes they were forced to
commit by their traffickers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ Polaris. ``Criminal Record Relief for Trafficking Survivors.''
2023. https://polarisproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Criminal-
Record-Relief-for-Trafficking-Survivors-by-Polaris.pdf.
\14\ Id. at 32.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
v. recommendations for congress and federal agencies
As the United States prepares to host the World Cup and other major
international events, we urge Congress to take the following actions:
1. Broaden the Federal focus beyond sex trafficking.--Ensure the
Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and
partner agencies explicitly plan for labor trafficking risks
across event-related industries.
2. Integrate labor rights outreach into event planning.--DHS can
partner with local and national workers' rights organizations
to educate workers about their rights, how to report abuse, and
ensure that seeking assistance will not result in arrest or
deportation.
3. Strengthen oversight of event-related imports.--Fully utilize
existing authorities, including Withhold Release Orders and the
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, to prevent goods produced
with forced labor, from souvenirs to uniforms, from entering
U.S. markets.\15\ \16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ US Department of Labor. ``Information and Resources on Withold
Release Orders (WROs).'' https://www.dol.gov/index.php/agencies/ilab/
comply-chain/steps-to-a-social-compliance-system/step-6-remediate-
violations/keytopic-information-and-resources-on-withhold-release-
orders-wros.
\16\ US Department of State. ``Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
(UFLPA) Fact Sheet.'' January 20, 2025. https://www.state.gov/office-
to-monitor-and-combat-trafficking-in-persons/releases/2025/01/uyghur-
forced-labor-prevention-actuflpa-fact-sheet.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Require victim-centered enforcement metrics.--Measure success by
traffickers prosecuted and victims out of harm's way, rather
than by raw arrest totals alone.
5. Reauthorize and strengthen the Trafficking Victims Protection
Act (TVPA).--For 25 years, the TVPA has been the backbone of
U.S. anti-trafficking efforts, funding survivor services, law
enforcement training, and prevention programs at the Federal,
State, and local levels. Reauthorization ensures sustained
support for victims while reinforcing bipartisan leadership to
combat human trafficking.
vi. conclusion
Large events test our systems. They reveal whether we respond with
coordination or chaos, with data or myth, with justice or optics. If we
plan early, center survivors, and focus on accountability rather than
criminalization, the World Cup can demonstrate not just global athletic
leadership but global moral leadership.
Polaris stands ready to support Congress, Federal agencies, and
other partners in identifying and implementing best practices in the
anti-trafficking field. This includes promoting approaches that are
survivor-centered, informed by data from past events, attentive to both
labor and sex trafficking, and designed to prevent harm caused by
outdated or punitive interventions.
By learning from prior events, centering survivor expertise, and
prioritizing prevention and accountability, we can ensure that major
events are managed in ways that protect human rights, expand access to
justice, and advance the effectiveness of U.S. anti-trafficking
efforts.
Thank you for your attention. I look forward to your questions.
Mr. McCaul. Thank you, Mr. Lundstrom.
I now recognize myself for 5 minutes of questions.
You know, when I authorized the Blue Campaign into law, it
was designed to work with law enforcement, to partner with
them, but also industry stakeholders like the Hotel-Motel
Association that was being, you know, exploited itself by these
traffickers to really help combat the scourge of human
trafficking.
Ms. McCoy, can you give us an update on your, say, your
relationship with the Blue Campaign and how well is it working
today?
Ms. McCoy. Thank you. Yes, I'm happy to. We are strong
partners with the DHS Blue Campaign. We meet regularly to align
our tactics and strategies and training and community outreach
and awareness raising. We certainly think they continue to
benefit our on-going support, particularly as they are making
great strides in integrating survivor perspective and lived
experience and the work that they do. We are happy to stand
alongside them in those efforts.
Mr. McCaul. That is excellent. I would like to talk about
over the last 4 to 5 years, we have had almost 500,000
unaccompanied children that came into this country, primarily
at the hands of drug cartels, sex traffickers. It was one of
the largest human trafficking events in the United States,
really, of our lifetime. Of those 500,000 children, more than
90,000 were sent to sponsors or who were unvetted, essentially
unvetted sponsors, or to homes where no home study was
conducted. In other words, you know, and I saw this, where 10
children would go to 1 house as a sponsor of the 10 children.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what is going on
here. It was a perfect storm for child sex trafficking. Now,
unfortunately, it is occurring.
Mr. Thompson, I think in your role you're best equipped to
give us sort-of a prognosis of this problem. How do you see
their vulnerability going into these FIFA World Cup games and
the Olympics, you know, as well? How can we protect them?
Mr. Thompson. Mr. Chairman, you've taped, you've bookended
the situation very well. We believe it is about 400,000. We
don't know, let's be honest. The records that were developed
and used, from all indications and all reports and briefings
I've received from the Government are deeply disturbing. Our
inability to find and assure this Congress and the Nation's
public that these individuals are not IA, dead, are being
trafficked in one way, shape, or form, including sex
trafficking, labor trafficking, and others. Third thing that is
deeply, deeply troubling is that the scale of this, if you did
simple math, assuming the 400,000 number is accurate, divided
simply by the number of counties in this country, 3,087 or 88,
and you come up with a pretty damning number.
What I can tell you that we are looking at with the
administration is how do we get our arms around the data, No.
1? That's a challenge for them. No. 2, then what do you do with
the data from a targeting package perspective? Where does it go
and how is it followed up upon? Those two steps alone are
incredibly labor and financially incentive, they're costly,
takes time.
I wish I could tell you that the prospect is bright. I
think there are some incredibly talented people at DHS. I think
there are some incredibly talented people at our State law
enforcement agencies and our local agencies that are working
this. But the numbers are staggering. Absolutely staggering.
Mr. McCaul. They are staggering. I want to work with you to
make sure we get the data to law enforcement. We know we have
documented these unaccompanied children.
Mr. Thompson. We have.
Mr. McCaul. We know where they went. We don't know where
they are, some of them today. But we do know that they are ripe
for being, you know, exploited for trafficking purposes. It is
our obligation to protect them from these traffickers. So I
look forward to working with you and law enforcement on this.
Last, Ms. Litvak, you know, you worked--your organization
worked with the same stadium that hosted the Super Bowl back in
2017, into a No Trafficking Zone. Houston is going to host the
FIFA World Cup next year. Can you tell us a little bit about
not only your organization, but how these trafficking
organizations operate? I know that 750 individuals were
indicted and prosecuted after that Super Bowl game. Can you
tell us about how these organizations, these criminal
enterprises, work from the lowest level with the pimp and the
groomer to the highest-level executive?
Ms. Litvak. Absolutely. Thank you, Chairman McCaul.
So I'm so blessed to work alongside the No Trafficking Zone
because they're truly--we are truly a survivor-led and trauma-
informed organization. That's something that NRG Park has taken
very seriously, is becoming the world's first certified No
Trafficking Zone. Working with their General Manager Hussein
and all of our incredible impact partners there. Primarily,
really trauma-informed law enforcement is so important because
uninformed and, quite frankly, corrupt players in the anti-
trafficking space even or those who pose as doing good work,
but they're really a part of the problem, we want to ensure we
are encouraging those who are doing the work for the right
reasons to continue to collaborate together, especially because
traffickers are watching our efforts and they're calculated.
My traffickers specifically would study the laws, primarily
when I was first targeted at my own high school as a minor. As
a junior in high school, my traffickers waited because they
knew the law in Texas that once you turn 18, there's a lot less
that law enforcement can do to intervene. This is an issue that
in Harris County alone being one of the largest counties in the
whole country, there's an average of over 200 runaway minors
daily. Law enforcement are already so understaffed and
overworked and underpaid. But once we understand the themes,
the patterns, we study those patterns by bringing survivor
leaders to the forefront.
So my lived experience in NRG Park and in the surrounding
hotels and motels, I was trafficked to during the 2017 Super
Bowl in February, where the New England Patriots and the
Atlanta Falcons came to our city. But where did I meet these
illicit sex buyers? So on the lower levels here, beginning in
street and gang trafficking, what is one of the No. 1 markets
that is targeted to procure and to exploit already vulnerable
individuals? It's actually hidden in plain sight site. It's our
sexually-oriented businesses, specifically strip clubs.
Houston is actually the strip club capital of the country,
which many people may mistake States such as Nevada and
California for. But when we work with our task force, and
that's why I think it's so important to have a structure such
as a task force to combat this issue because these organized
criminals work in networks. They are educated, they know the
laws, they are experts at evading detection, but they're hidden
in plain sight.
Club owners and strip club general managers operate just
the same as sex traffickers and human traffickers. So when you
get to the more sophisticated levels of organized crime, not
only do you have MS-13 cartel, all these horrible groups that
are very prevalent in Texas, especially being a border State.
We have to be able to fill these gaps, but how do we address
those? We talk with survivors, just like those who are on this
panel right now, to hear what would have made a difference when
we were being trafficked? But then to understand these aren't
always just street-level criminals. They are what's known as
corporate CEO traffickers.
I was trafficked by both men and women. I was sold to both
men and women. But these traffickers can be lawyers, as were
some of mine, and they're businessmen, businesswomen, who are
well-spoken. Sadly, a lot of women are aiding these criminal
networks. No. 1, sometimes we know that people can go from
being victimized to being forced to be bottoms, which is people
who do recruiting for human traffickers. But there's so many
other organized crime networks and criminal enterprises taking
place, such as drug trafficking. But when you have Corporate
America involved, my traffickers were laundering the money that
we were making from the strip clubs with Corporate America
businesses.
This is something that we have to find more ways to track
this crime because data and mass underreporting is such a huge
issue, but especially when victims like myself are under
immense threat and pressure by those who will use violence. But
force, fraud, and coercion are so important for us to tackle at
all levels.
Mr. McCaul. I think, you know, as we talked about the
victims being the criminals, in this case we shouldn't just go
after the lowest level in these organizations. We need to go up
to the very top, high-level----
Ms. Litvak. Start at the top.
Mr. McCaul [continuing]. And that is a shame. I know that
the FBI is working on several sting operations that we can't
discuss today. I wish them, you know, the best.
I know when Back Page was taken down by Congress and you
were held captive, that had an immense impact on the
traffickers. As you told me, they were very, very upset about
that, which is good news.
With that, I apologize, I went way over my time, but I
guess that is prerogative, you know. I recognize our Ranking
Member, Ms. Pou.
Ms. Pou. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No problem with me.
Mr. McCaul. Thank you.
Ms. Pou. Thank you so very much, Mr. Chairman.
First of all, let me just say to Ms. Lundstrom and Ms.
Litvak, thank you. Thank you so very much for joining us today
and for sharing your very, very important work. But also, it
takes an immense courage and empowerment to share your personal
experiences and the obstacles that you have overcome. So thank
you for sharing that. Really appreciate your testimony and the
words and the kind of work that you are all doing now to make
sure to address that.
We have talked about this, right? It has been mentioned all
of the upcoming events, like the World Cup, the Summer
Olympics, the America 250 will require significant labor to
build the infrastructure needed to host mass matches and
related festivals.
In the past, we have seen labor trafficking among
vulnerable individuals who perform temporary labor-intensive
jobs such as venue construction, janitorial services,
groundkeeping, just to name a few. These operations are often
outsourced to contract labor crews and individuals who can be
susceptible to force labor activities. So we cannot take our
eyes off the enhanced risk of forced labor trafficking at these
events.
Ms. Lundstrom, what should, in your opinion, what should
Congress be aware of when it comes to forced labor and labor
trafficking violations and how can we address the significant
threat at mass gathering events?
Ms. Lundstrom. Thank you, Ranking Member Pou. I'm happy to
answer that question briefly.
I think there's two elements that are really important to
be considering here. The first of which is, as I mentioned,
there is no data around labor trafficking at events. So if we
are going to move forward with a strategy, we need to know what
it actually looks like. We need to have a picture first. So I
think prioritizing data and really understanding how major
events impact and change local workforces is the first step
there.
Then the second piece is really thinking about those supply
chains and the products that are being purchased and brought in
as well, and making sure that those products are not coming
into our country and not being sold for additional profits that
have been made in other countries by exploited persons.
Ms. Pou. Right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for that,
for your thoughtful response to that.
You know, it is vital that the Department of Homeland
Security and the Blue Campaign also focus on laborers and work
to ensure that they know their rights as well. So I think that
is important. I hope that my colleagues will certainly join me
in advocating for DHS to incorporate this issue in the Blue
Campaign.
I also wanted to ask you, you know, I think transportation
is so very key to a lot of what we are talking about here. As
the most densely-populated State in the entire country, New
Jersey relies on its roads, bridges, and rails more than anyone
else. During the World Cup, New Jersey will host 8 matches
including the final, as I mentioned earlier. Over 1.2 million
fans are expected to travel to our State to enjoy this once-in-
a-lifetime event. In my district specifically, the Secaucus
Junction connects numerous New Jersey transit rail lines and
serves as an essential hub for fans traveling to MetLife
Stadium to watch the matches.
We know, we know that criminals rely on transportation hub
to traffic victims. I have been encouraged by efforts from the
Federal, State, local, and nonprofit stakeholders to increase
awareness of how to recognize and stop human trafficking in and
around places like the Secaucus Junction.
Ms. Lundstrom, if you would also just share with us, how do
criminals use a transit hub, like the Secaucus Junction, to
exploit victims? How can we educate the public on how to
recognize and report human trafficking in these settings?
Ms. Lundstrom. Happy to answer that question as well.
Transportation is just one of the many means that traffickers
use to bring victims to the place where they are sold,
ultimately for that trafficker's profits. That happens across
all modes of transportation. So, again, there is this element
of education for the general public to understand what
trafficking looks like because it touches all of our lives
every single day. So being aware of it and knowing where to go
to reach out to report instances and also where to provide
resources to victims I think is very important when it comes to
anti-trafficking work.
I know New Jersey has the New Jersey Coalition Against
Human Trafficking and they're doing wonderful work. I have a
close friend and colleague who is a survivor leader there, Gina
Cavallo. I think New Jersey has set a wonderful example of what
survivor-led anti-trafficking initiatives can really look like
thanks in large part to both you and the coalition.
Ms. Pou. Thank you. Thank you so very much. We certainly
have worked really hard in New Jersey to try to make this a
point of, you know, something that we absolutely have focused
on and have allowed for very, very important legislation to be
passed and supported and signed into law. So I am happy to have
been a part of that during my tenure in the legislature.
A real quick question for Ms. McCoy. I was listening to
your testimony and learned, or as I was listening to what you
were saying, you were talking about the important elements that
you provide for the members of everyone who is surrounded,
connected, and employed through the facilities, the hotel and
motel enterprises. Part of my legislation that I spoke about
earlier in New Jersey certainly and talked about the training
and identification, right, and we want to make sure that we are
identifying these individuals as victims and not someone who is
looking to procure these types of services and be arrested and
thrown into jail. The fact that some of them have not only been
identified as anything other--you know, something other than a
victim, but been put in the very same vehicle, just
transporting them into the Police Department with their
perpetrator, as you have mentioned earlier, Ms. Lundstrom.
But back to Ms. McCoy. If you would, please, one of the
things that was truly important to me was making sure that we
provided and almost required that training be provided to each
and every one of those employees so that they could easily and
clearly identify and make a distinction who were really being
victimized, right, and exploited and becoming that victim, and
who may very well be doing a different--you know, doing it for
different? Can you share with us a little bit, be more specific
with respect to the type of training that you are talking about
to easily identify? How do you do that for your employees? I am
talking about housekeepers, I am talking about door elevator
operators, all kinds, from, you know, the cook right on through
the super manager overseeing the facility. Thank you.
Ms. McCoy. Thank you for the question. Yes, we are anti-
human trafficking training that we support, again, free for any
industry employee, but also anyone in our communities that
would like to take it, does focus on all forms of human
trafficking and provides a number of indicators that in some
combination may indicate suspected human trafficking and
directs employees exactly how to report that information, both
to their supervisors on property, as well as the National Human
Trafficking Hotline and law enforcement, where appropriate.
So that training is designed to specifically showcase ways
in which hotels can potentially provide opportunities for that
exploitation and how we can mitigate that risk, both from, like
you said, any role, front desk all the way to our culinary and
our cooks. We've seen such a tremendous amount of engagement
across our industry by all different types of employees who not
only are taking that education and turning it into action by
making those reports while at work, but also in their
communities. Because ultimately, our job as an industry is to
be a community steward. We're creating more eyes and ears,
whether it's reporting while at work or in the communities
where we all live and reside.
Ms. Pou. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I
yield back.
Mr. McCaul. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Alabama, Mr. Strong.
Mr. Strong. Thank you, Chairman McCaul, and thank you to
the witnesses for being with us today, and to Chairman McCaul
and Ranking Member Pou for making this hearing happen. Thank
you both.
As the United States prepares for several major
international events, understanding the trafficking risk
associated with mass gathering is increasingly important. There
are not many issues that bring both sides of the aisle
together. This could be the one. You think about this morning,
I was in a hearing related to unmanned aerial vehicles, drones,
around mass gathering events. We need to defeat both of these
issues, trafficking and drones at the same level.
Mr. Thompson, it is great to be with you again. From your
perspective, how do you mass gathering events like the World
Cup strain law enforcement capacity to address human
trafficking?
Mr. Thompson. Thank you, Mr. Strong. It's always a pleasure
to be here with you as well.
There's an enormous strain on local law enforcement today,
as you know as well as I do. We are overtaxed and undermanned
in many, many agencies across this country. That's just a fact.
The ability to recruit and retain people has been difficult on
a good day, to put it mildly. The past 5 years, we've seen some
really, really tough times. People, that's No. 1.
Second challenge is that technology is moving so fast that
the criminal element, sadly, is more sophisticated than the
most sophisticated Wall Street banks. These are really sharp,
very motivated individuals and organizations. They have the
best of the best to circumvent being caught, circumvent the
investigations, and circumvent the communication systems.
They're doing it as we speak.
Mr. Strong. Absolutely. As those pressures increase, how
effective are current information-sharing mechanisms, such as
coordination between Federal, State, and local partners, and
the use of fusion centers in identifying trafficking activities
tied to major events?
Mr. Thompson. Mr. Strong, this is a soft subject for me.
I've been in this job for 11 years and this has been a No. 2
priority for me is the information intelligence sharing,
criminal intelligence sharing, from the Federal Government down
to the local level, to the boots on the ground. It's long
overdue. I think, I think, the National Counterterrorism Center
and the ODNI have finally cracked a code. If we can't put that
information onto a device in the hands of a law enforcement--
sworn law enforcement officer, what to look for, what to be
concerned about, and take the see something, say something up
to the highest possible level, then we are totally missing the
boat. But I think, I think, they're about to do that.
I believe that there's two programs we are working with the
intelligence community and DHS on to try and get this finally
fixed so that we can streamline getting that information from
the President of the United States down to the boots on the
ground. It's that--it's possible, it's doable. It's not a
technological problem. It's a will. It's a will.
Mr. Strong. I will tell you, we got to break these fiefdoms
down so that we can get this information. The information
gathering, I know we have got talked about it and I know your
desire.
The National Child Advocacy Center was started in my
hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, and is now all over the
country, and I see how that works: local law enforcement,
State, Federal, DAs, all in one facility. It makes a difference
and we have got to continue that fight.
Ms. McCoy, hotels are often on the front lines of
trafficking detection. How prepared is the hospitality industry
for the coming influx of visitors as the U.S. hosts major
international events?
Ms. McCoy. We certainly know that human trafficking is an
insidious crime across the Nation in a variety of different
communities and locations. For us in the hotel industry, we
have had a long-standing commitment to being at the ready from
a training perspective and operational perspective. Certainly
when we have large events, such as the ones we've talked about
today, we take the opportunity to amplify those efforts to
reinforce them. But it certainly is something that has become
an automatic component to every employee's experience in our
industry and something that we just continue to double down on
when we have the attention and the awareness from these major
events.
Mr. Strong. Thank you.
Looking beyond preparedness efforts, Ms. Vafa, how do
traffickers exploit the high travel volumes during major
sporting events?
Ms. Vafa. Well, they use these trafficking routes. I mean,
the traditional routes that were used for the drug trades have
been repurposed, of course.
But, again, I'd like to emphasize from my testimony,
trafficking is a market crime. While it's very important to
focus on traffickers and trafficker enforcement and
prosecutions are essential, traffickers are merely responding
to the demand that is created by sex buyers. So buyer
deterrence addresses economic incentives upstream. So, you
know, we have Federal laws, we have State laws that mandate
buyer deterrence and buyer enforcement. That's just not being
done.
At the Federal level to scale, it's being discouraged
through TVPA grant programs, through the enhanced collaborative
model we're literally getting language from OVC discouraging
these types of, you know, proactive deterrence mechanisms, even
though we know they work, we have evidence from jurisdictions
that they work. We're just spinning our wheels if we're just
going after traffickers until we actually focus on the true
drivers of the harm when we know they inflict just as much if
not more egregious forms of violence on victims all over place
the country.
So, yes, it's very important to look at these patterns and
detect and respond to the trafficker and exploiters patterns,
but it's also very important to be observing buyer behavior
through on-line sex ads. We have evidence. We were just
speaking to partners this morning about the PGA Tour. They've
been tracking it for several years, looking at baseline on-line
sex ads. They see a surge every time the PGA Tour or comes to
town. You can see this with many other big events and large-
scale events that come to host cities.
So again, I just want to emphasize the importance of not
just looking at traffickers, but also sex buyers when it comes
to sex trafficking.
Mr. Strong. Thank you. I am going to tell you, Ms. Litvak
and Ms. Lundstrom, two of the most powerful testimonies I have
ever heard. Thank you.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
Mr. McCaul. I thank the gentleman.
Let me, if I could just echo, I tell you what, we go after
a couple of high-profile buyers, they are going to pucker up
and so is the entire marketplace. It will have a very strong
impact on, you know, who is going to be involved in trying to
buy humans.
Now, with that, the Chairman recognizes the gentleman from
California, Mr. Correa.
Mr. Correa. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, I want
to thank all witnesses for being here today, especially the
victims that have had guts.
Mr. McCaul. I am sorry. Go ahead. Would you like me to--the
mic falls, but----
Mrs. McIver. Go ahead, Louis.
Mr. McCaul. Mrs. McIver.
Mrs. McIver. Thank you. I am sorry about that, Lou.
Thank you to our co-chairs for spearheading this hearing
today. Truly delighted to be here to hear from our witnesses. I
want to thank each of you for being here today and for having
the humility and vulnerability to testify. Thank you so much.
As a mother, a daughter, and a sister, this issue is deeply
personal to me. The fear of a loved one going missing and being
exploited is unimaginable. It is our responsibility to ensure
authorities have the tools they need to prevent trafficking and
protect victims, especially during large-scale events. Human
trafficking, as been mentioned multiple times on this dais
today, is a horrific crime that affects all of our communities.
It is particularly horrific because the victims are often among
the most vulnerable people in society: minorities, immigrants,
children, and people of color.
I want to talk a little bit about the impact of human
trafficking for Black Americans. Black women and girls are
among the most vulnerable populations in the United States. In
fact, while only around 12 percent of the U.S. population is
Black, the victims and survivors of sex trafficking are 40
percent Black. These numbers are raise important questions
about the victimization and the criminalization of Black women
and girls.
Ms. Vafa, I want to go to you because I know you have
written about this issue. Could you walk us through some of the
reasons Black girls in particular are being victimized,
trafficked, and revictimized through the criminal justice
system?
Ms. Vafa. Yes, thank you so much for that question.
Rights4Girls has written extensively about the this topic. We
offer numerous trainings on this topic as well.
We have to understand the sex trade in the United States
today as a legacy of this Nation's long-standing history of
racialized and gendered violence. It stems directly from
colonization and the transatlantic slave trade. Understanding
it as part of that long-standing history where, you know, sex
trafficking was one of the first things that happened as a
result of colonization and the trafficking and enslavement of
Indigenous women and girls, followed closely by the trafficking
that happened as a result of transatlantic slavery. For
example, the fancy girl trade, which is one of the earliest
documented instances of sex trafficking and the commercial
sexual exploitation of Black women and even young men who were
sold explicitly for sexual exploitation in this country, we
have to understand that much of the conditions that we see
today in the sex trade are an extension of that history. That
generations, hundreds of years of normalizing the
commodification of Black and Brown predominantly female bodies
for male profit and pleasure have really created the conditions
that we see today.
So we have many of these fact sheets on our websites and in
our report. Basically, any jurisdiction that you look at across
the country today, we see a glaring over-representation of
predominantly Black and Indigenous women and girls. But to use
one example, we can submit this further for the record, King
County, which is the area around Seattle, Washington, we know
that Black people are 7 percent of the population, but they
represent 44 percent of child trafficking victims. In that same
jurisdiction where white people are 66 percent of the
population, sex buyers are 73 percent white men.
Mrs. McIver. Wow.
Ms. Vafa. So just to give you a sense of that
disproportionality, we've also collected this data to
disaggregate these types of disparities across the country.
What really adds to this injustice is that, to your point,
Black women and girls are overrepresented amongst those who are
criminalized for their exploitation. We call this the sexual
abuse to prison pipeline. In our work and advocacy, trafficking
is one manifestation of this abuse to prison pipeline. Black
girls in particular are affected through different forms of
intersectional biases, predominantly what's known as
adultification bias. This is a documented form of implicit
bias. The Georgetown Law Center on Gender Justice and
Opportunity has documented this in a report called ``Girlhood
Interrupted.''
But it's been shown that young Black girls receive many of
the same stereotypes that are often attributed to Black women,
again stemming from colonization and slavery around them being
seemed as promiscuous, seductive, angry, defiant. They're
projected onto Black girls. As a result, through this research
that Georgetown conducted, Black girls are seen as less
innocent and much older than their white peers. When they
experience sexual abuse and sex trafficking, they're seen as
less traumatized by that abuse and, in fact, complicit in that
abuse. So subsequent research has shown that they're more
likely to be deemed as offenders than victims of crime. So
there's research to support this, but that is a very quick
overview of that trajectory.
Mrs. McIver. Yeah. No, thank you so much. I heard, like,
inhale, exhale up here while you were delivering some of that
data. Truly thankful for your expertise and you sharing that
research and that data with many of us here.
I want to thank each of you once again for being here and
for sharing your testimony. With that, I am going to be
respectful to the 5-minute time and I am going to yield back.
Mr. McCaul. No, thank you. Thank you for calling attention
to that racial disparity. I was not aware of that as well.
The Chairman now recognizes Mr. Crane from Arizona.
Mr. Crane. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I want to say thank you
to the panel for coming today. Obviously a very heavy subject.
I especially want to thank the victims here today for coming
and testifying about what we can do to help stop sex
trafficking, especially around major sporting events in the
United States.
Border Czar Tom Homan recently announced that more than
62,000 migrant children have been rescued by the Trump
administration and saved from truly despicable conditions,
including sex trafficking, forced labor after they crossed the
border without parents under the Biden administration.
According to a 2024 DHS OIG report, the Biden administration
released 291,000 unaccompanied alien children without notices
to appear or a scheduled court date and had no way of tracking
them after they arrived in the country. What makes this even
more troubling is that just yesterday, over 200 House Democrats
voted against the Kayla Hamilton Act, legislation that includes
provision that strengthened protections for unaccompanied alien
children by requiring thorough background checks of potential
sponsors and adult household members and imposing stricter
criminal history requirements.
Sheriff, do you think that these families that we are
putting these unaccompanied minors into, do you think that
those families should be vetted?
Mr. Thompson. Absolutely.
Mr. Crane. You think they should be thoroughly vetted?
Mr. Thompson. Absolutely, top to bottom.
Mr. Crane. Can you see any reason why people in this very
chamber would be voting against that?
Mr. Thompson. I can't think of a reason.
Mr. Crane. Thanks, Sheriff.
Ms. Vafa, you mentioned several major sporting events where
many traffickers and predators were arrested, and I appreciate
you bringing up that data. I am guessing most of these arrests
were likely due to digital on-line investigations. Can you
confirm or deny that?
Ms. Vafa. I would have to go back and check, but I assume
many of these were based on on-line stings and some joint
cooperative between local and likely Federal law enforcement.
Mr. Crane. Thank you.
Ms. Litvak, thank you so much for that amazing testimony.
When I get to hear individuals like yourself who have taken
something that is just awful and atrocious and turn it into
something amazing and beautiful, it is one of the most powerful
testimonies I have ever heard. I also appreciate that you
brought up one of my favorite scripture verses as well, Genesis
50:20. I think that is so awesome. I have never met you in my
life, but I am proud of you for doing what you are doing.
What would you like to tell young boys and girls and
parents that might listen to this hearing about how to avoid
the awful victimization that you endured?
Ms. Litvak. Thank you so much for sharing that, but also
acknowledging, you know, this is also a spiritual battle as
much as it is physical.
Mr. Crane. Amen.
Ms. Litvak. It's pure evil. But what I want people to know,
don't think families, parents, that this can't happen to and
this can't happen because it happens in our own backyard. No
Trafficking Zone understands this happens in every single
school district. This happened to me in Katy ISD. There's
wonderful teachers there, some of my best friends work there,
but also there's a lot of complacency. So not always are
people's intentions malicious.
But parents and families need to be on the lookout for
vulnerable children, and Jeffrey Epstein and the Ghislaine
Maxwell case is a great example of this, who were recruiting
and paying other children who were impoverished and who were
marginalized in different communities, that were more
susceptible to being given whether it was a couple hundred
dollars or an incentive for peer-on-peer recruitment. So this--
anybody can be a victim, anybody can be a trafficker and
anybody can be a buyer as well, but also procure a forced
labor. This can happen to any child.
I never want somebody to have to walk through what myself
and my family have walked through and countless other victims,
so many who will never get to have their voices heard, and they
have a voice, but many people sadly do not make it out. It's 1
percent. Don't wait until this happens to you, where it's--it
should become personal before this happens to you, where
everybody takes up arms and covers our communities, our
churches, our schools, our institution, our government in
prayer constantly. But we're in such a divisive time and we
really need more unity, but also education and awareness. Be
prepared before it happens to you.
Mr. Crane. Thank you.
Ms. Litvak. Thank you.
Mr. Crane. My last question. Ms. Lundstrom, you discussed
many failures in our legal system to hold traffickers
accountable. You went through several examples of, you know,
arrests, and then people not being--traffickers not being held
accountable. In your opinion, ma'am, what is the disconnect
with our justice system? Why do you think more of these
individuals aren't actually being incarcerated and held
accountable?
Ms. Lundstrom. That's a great question, and I wish that
there was a single answer. I think there are many different
systems failures along the way. The reality is, because we
don't have comprehensive data and because we don't share
information across information silos, we're not truly able to
see a full picture of where those gaps are and how best to
address them. That's actually something that Polaris is working
on right now, is a national framework that would help identify
risk patterns across industries, coordinate law enforcement and
service providers, and deploy resources to where they're
needed. But ultimately, it starts with having that data and
intelligence and being able to talk about it and look at the
different pieces of this story.
Mr. Crane. Thank you. I yield back.
Mr. McCaul. If I could just add, you know, Ms. Litvak came
from a very wealthy suburb of Houston that was in my district
at that time. You wouldn't think this would happen in a place
like that, but no neighborhood is protected from this. That is
why we introduced the Stop Human Trafficking in School Zones
Act to increase the penalties to 5 years in prison, just like
we have, you know, the same policy for guns in school zones.
Why in the world wouldn't be able to pass that kind of
legislation that has a harsh penalty for human traffickers
found in school zones?
Mr. Thompson.
Mr. Thompson. Pass it. Pass it today, not next week. Pass
it right now.
Mr. McCaul. Thanks for the endorsement.
The gentleman now from California is recognized again, Mr.
Correa.
Mr. Correa. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, I want to thank
the witnesses for being here today, especially the victims, for
speaking up.
I am from Orange County, California, probably one of the
wealthiest counties in California, in the United States. Last I
looked, more than 50 percent of the young girls in juvenile
hall were there because of prostitution. I am hearing you say
this is a demand business. I also hear you say one-third of men
arrested were released within days of being arrested. Is that
correct? I am hearing that maybe the laws are there or are they
not? Do we need stronger laws to shame these individuals so
that their community knows that they are actually having sex
with underage children? Is that what we need to do? Please.
Ms. Vafa. Well, I'm not sure if you followed what happened
in California, but it was actually very difficult to get felony
accountability for buyers of child sex. So this was a huge
battle in California. We ended up finally coming to a
compromise where, you know, there was a 3-year differential,
but this was very difficult. In our buyers on mass----
Mr. Correa. You wonder, you have to come to a compromise--
--
Ms. Vafa. Yeah.
Mr. Correa [continuing]. To move ahead with prosecuting
these individuals. Sex crimes are the most underreported crimes
there are in society today. I hear some of you saying we need
to wait for data. I don't think we need to wait for data. We
know what the hell is going on. OK? Sex slavery. We need to do
everything in our disposal to stop this.
We are 6 months away from the FIFA World Cup events here in
the United States and to think that we are heading in this
direction. Do we need to activate volunteer groups, see
something, say something, and make sure that we tell these
johns don't even think about it because we are going to be
going after you? We are going to make sure we arrest you. Your
names are going to be publicly displayed.
Give me some advice, I want some ideas. What do we do to go
after these individuals?
Ms. Vafa. So there's multipronged things we can do. But I
want to first say to Meagan's point, and she talked about the
traffickers, there was a report by Shared Hope that looked at
134 cases of men buying sex from minors and 26 percent served
no time and 69 percent of those that got sentences had them
suspended. So this notion that, you know, even buyers of child
sex, like, surely, we hold them accountable, it's just not the
case. So you know, in many cases the laws are on the books. We
just need, you know, the political will to enforce them.
But there are all sorts of different modules now. You know,
there's AI, there's Transaction Intercept which this
organization Street Grace is working with tons of law
enforcement all over the country to implement. There's all
sorts of States in the last couple years, 4 States have made it
a felony to buy sex and are working to implement this. I know
DHS has been very active in States like Texas and has been
doing excellent work.
So it's not necessarily, you know, passing more laws,
although in some States that's been incredibly effective.
Mr. Correa. It sounds like we need to enforce them and,
like you said----
Ms. Vafa. Exactly.
Mr. Correa [continuing]. The political will is needed. Mr.
Chairman, I don't know about you, but we are at the Federal
level and I would like to see us do something legislatively to
make sure that these laws are enforced, Federal laws at the
Federal level.
Ms. Vafa. Especially the grant programs that we have under
TBPA, making clear that the enhanced collaborative models that
traditionally were able to be used for these proactive demand
reduction operations can continue to be used to do so. For the
last few years, there's been direct language from OVC
explicitly banning them from using that funding to do these
proactive demand reduction operations because, you'd have to
ask OVC, but in our estimation, it's probably because they're
seen as, you know, going against sex worker rights. So it's
really important to understand----
Mr. Correa. This is not about the sex worker. These are
about the johns.
Ms. Vafa. Exactly. Exactly.
Mr. Correa. We want to go after the demand.
Ms. Vafa. Exactly. Irrespective, this demand for commercial
sex is what drives the market that fuels trafficking. It's very
important to realize that we have to target the demand in order
to prevent trafficking.
Mr. Correa. This is just an outrage. I would ask our
Chairman and Ranking Member to work together to come up with
some kind of a mechanism to make sure we enforce the laws in
the book and also make sure that we shame the hell out of these
johns and make sure their community knows that they are doing
some very bad things in our communities.
Mr. Chairman, I am out of time. Well----
Mr. Thompson. Mr. Chairman, if you'd indulge me for just a
second, I want to make something very, very clear. Those
numbers are startling. What we're seeing is that cops and
deputies and Federal officials, they're arresting them, they're
bringing them in, but we don't set the terms, we don't
prosecute them, and we're not sitting on the bench releasing
them.
Mr. McCaul. Right. If I can add to that, as a Federal
prosecutor and former State, in the case of gun violence, we
were able to move gun cases from State to Federal, where we had
mandatory minimum sentencing under the guidelines. Right? Five
year, as opposed to sometimes in State courts it fluctuates.
Maybe, Ms. Vafa, if you could elaborate on are there any
mandatory minimums for this type of offense under the Federal
sentencing guidelines?
Ms. Vafa. So there is a mandatory minimum assigned to the
1591, which is the Federal trafficking crime. Under the Federal
trafficking crime, patronize and solicits is part of the
trafficking offense. Again, it's just a matter of whether
Federal law enforcement and prosecutors will apply that to sex
buyers. It's been a part of the law since 2015.
The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act made it clear in
the sense of Congress, under that law, they addressed the fact
that there was some ambiguity given that a couple of Federal
cases, you know, essentially dismissed cases that went after
sex buyers as part of the Sturgis rally, you know, biker cases.
So they wanted to remove all doubt that the word ``obtains''
could apply to sex buyers. So they added ``patronize and
solicits.'' I think many years ago, Congressman Sensenbrenner
had added mandatory minimums to 1591. So they are----
Mr. McCaul. But mandatory minimums take the discretion away
from the judge.
Ms. Vafa. Correct.
Mr. McCaul. They have to impose that mandatory minimum
sentence. So I don't understand. Is that not being done?
Ms. Vafa. It's just a matter of if prosecutors are willing
to go after sex buyers.
Mr. McCaul. So it's more on the----
Ms. Vafa. Correct. It's still----
Mr. McCaul [continuing]. Justice Department and State
prosecutors that are not doing this.
Ms. Vafa. Correct.
Mr. McCaul. Because under the sentencing guidelines, it
does provide for that. It is just if they are not going to ask
for that as part of the sentencing.
Ms. Vafa. Right. That's my understanding. I mean, there's
still some confusion. I mean, even, you know, certain, you
know, lawmakers are still unaware of the Federal trafficking
definitions. Right? If there's an exchange of sex for anything
of value with a minor, that under Federal law constitutes
trafficking. Yet, you know, we'll still see instances of
confusion in the press or concerning certain matters here.
There still seems to be confusion. Whereas all of us----
Mr. Correa. It should be any sex with a minor----
Ms. Vafa. Correct.
Mr. Correa [continuing]. Irrespective of where there is an
exchange, is a crime.
Ms. Vafa. Right. It's a trafficking----
Mr. Correa. A minimum.
Ms. Vafa. Right.
Mr. McCaul. Mr. Thompson, can you maybe shed some light on
this? I am still a little confused. Is this just a matter of
maybe at the State level or the prosecutors are not pursuing
the mandatory minimum sentencing?
Mr. Thompson. I think it's a combination of factors. I
think caseloads are overwhelming judges. The caseloads are
overwhelming prosecutors. This comes down to dollars and cents
because they don't have the money to pay more prosecutors,
whether it's U.S. attorneys or local prosecutors.
We can send out more deputies and we can send out more
cops. That's not the problem in my district. It's a part of the
problem, but it's not the solution. The country has got to
decide how serious a crime by a man against a woman for sex
trafficking is. You're either going to face the punishment or
you're going to get a slap on the wrist.
Mr. McCaul. Right.
Mr. Thompson. Now, in my estimation, it's the punishment.
You're going to be ostracized, to Mr. Correa's point. You're
going to carry around that stigma for the rest of your life
that you were part of a sex trafficking operation. But the fact
is, is that the country's not willing to go there right now.
Mr. McCaul. Well, in my experience, the pedophiles were the
lowest of the low in the prison system.
Mr. Thompson. That's something that, you know, we have to
recognize and acknowledge as a government. This is all of us.
This isn't Rs and Ds and I's and----
Mr. McCaul. No, this is a totally----
Mr. Correa. I disagree with you. Let's test it. I bet the
country is ready to go there.
Mr. Thompson. I hope you're right, sir. I'm such a cynic as
you--you know me better than many.
Mr. Correa. No, this is----
Mr. Thompson. I hope you're right. I do believe that our
parents, our teachers, our doctors and nurses, our cops,
everyone in the chain, the social chain, has a huge oar in
this. They have to play a role. Parents need to tell their
children, look out, be careful, look both ways, not just
crossing the street. The doctors that do the physicals and the
dentists that check on these kids. Hey, are you aware? Are you
thinking about it?
The teachers, the things we're teaching in school today
versus the things we should be teaching on common sense, on
protecting one another. Watch your fellow student. Is she
falling victim? Is there a stranger hanging around the
schoolyard? Are they offering you things? Are they playing
games? This is common sense, but yet, I can tell you, this is
not happening.
Mr. McCaul. Well, school districts, like in Courtney's
case, they turned a blind eye----
Mr. Thompson. Absolutely.
Mr. McCaul [continuing]. To her groomer, who was a student,
by the way, and then she was fed to the raptors like, you know,
like lions.
Mr. Thompson. It's liability. They're afraid that the trial
lawyers are going to run in and sue them till they're dead.
Mr. McCaul. Yeah.
Mr. Correa. Which they do. Which they should. Which they
should.
Mr. McCaul. Well, we would like to follow up on this
specific area. I was not aware of the mandatory minimum or lack
of enforcement thereof. Perhaps work with you, Mr. Correa, Ms.
Pou, and Mr. Stone, and all Members of this task force on a
solution to this one because I think this could make a serious
dent. If you get to the high-profile buyers, you are going to
make a real dent in the sort of marketing, if you will, of this
criminal enterprise.
Ms. Vafa. It also comes with a $5,000 mandatory fine that
populates into a domestic trafficking victims fund. So there's
lots of incentive to up these prosecutions.
Mr. McCaul. No. Excellent.
Well, I want to thank the witnesses. This has been a very
profound hearing on a very ugly situation in this country and
the world. I hope we can make a difference to protect these
victims, and we have two before us here today, and thank you
for your testimony. I know it is not easy to talk about this
publicly, and a lot of victims don't, but it was very valuable
to this task force.
So with that, this hearing stands adjourned, and thank you
again for being here.
[Whereupon, at 3:46 p.m., the committee was adjourned.]
[all]