Editor’s Note: Colin Sekerka is a fourth-year political science major and economics minor. He’s involved in PLNU’s Study Abroad Office and the History and Political Science Department. He hopes to engage in anti-human trafficking efforts around the San Diego area when he graduates. This article is based on his research for his senior honors project. Its content contains sensitive information, including language of human trafficking and sexual abuse.
Human trafficking in San Diego is prevalent, profitable, horrific and about as American as apple pie.
Over the past year and a half, I researched, interviewed, wrote and presented on the topic of human trafficking in San Diego, statewide and international sociopolitical spheres. As a fourth-year political science major minoring in economics, I owe an incredible deal of research and topic-relevant guidance to Point Loma Nazarene University’s History and Political Science Department professors, especially in helping me pinpoint where this wicked sociopolitical economic issue ought to be addressed.
I’ve dedicated my time, discipline and skillset this semester to conducting an honors research project on the nature of human trafficking in America’s Finest City.
The conversation around human trafficking is drenched in anger, disappointment, sympathy for the victims and frustration. In the time I’ve spent researching, interviewing high-caliber personnel involved in regional anti-human trafficking efforts and mapping trends in previous political science courses, I’ve grown familiar with its origin. To tackle the issue and attempt to assess the root causes for its presence in San Diego, there are a couple of realities to keep in mind.
The first is the issue of supply and demand, and the powerlessness that state, public and private authorities often find themselves with. The second is the need to distinguish between “soft” and “hard” policies, aiming to confront the issue from different perspectives. “Soft policies” address the context of human trafficking, shedding light on the need for more stable economic diversity, more proficient education and more feasible support for mothers in all situations.
Public initiatives that seek to finance organized anti-human trafficking task forces, more appropriately equip local law enforcement agencies and increase punishment for human traffickers are recognized as “hard policies.” The focus is on those who contribute to the demand for acquiring people as sex slaves to build an organization’s asset portfolio.
When this horrifying issue is brought up in conversation, I’ve observed most people gravitating to the “hard policy” side. There is nothing wrong with this. As long as the atrocious underground organizations still thrive in San Diego, there will always be a need for more resources, coordination and operations — all requiring financial support.
Unfortunately, this perspective receives too much attention in the grander scope of anti-human trafficking efforts. Pigeon-holing efforts, time and resources on both the private and public levels toward assessing the demand side of human trafficking challenges efforts to also uplift the supply side — the people who become the products of demand.
With my project, I aspire to develop an understanding of how public and private partnerships can contribute to encouraging the “soft side” initiatives against human trafficking in San Diego. I hope to propose viable solutions to the matter. I’ve completed an internship with the Port of San Diego, which helped me connect with people and resources involved. Through interviews and research, including the Port’s Harbor Police Department, there needs to be more attention on the environments surrounding victims of human trafficking. Nonprofits dominate this sphere in San Diego.
Establishing safe houses, spreading awareness and education and working to return victims to the American economic environment are efforts these organizations spearhead. Another significant issue is the lack of consistent funding. Donations can be reliable, but depend too heavily on the emotional bandwidth of donors. Government attempts to address the soft side of the issue often fall flat because the scope of public policies tends to support only parts of the situation, like placing a bandage over a much deeper, more infected wound. Public agencies can provide public funding to nonprofits, but unfortunately, this money will still feed initiatives of the same short-sided approach.
Throughout San Diego, things like local gangs, diversity of economic opportunities, public education, happiness and moral values and the lack of an immigration system to support individuals in limbo point to a deeper reality. These situations are common in the American public sphere, as if it’s an inherent part of the political system.
Since this country’s establishment, the question of what type of “social safety net” the country should sustain for the marginalized has persisted.
American policies and municipal laws have aimed to provide solutions to social, economic and issues of access still plaguing this country. Unfortunately, as well-intentioned and designed as these initiatives are, attempting to tackle issues like homelessness and unemployment can be too complex to handle. This is especially true for local governments.
Efforts beyond the standardized public process are possible only through the commitment of unwavering hearts and minds and resources. The issue of modern slavery is undeniably systemic and an integral characteristic of humanity’s story on Earth. Understanding this encourages the mindset needed to target the root causes of issues like human trafficking. We ought to answer the call to act for those who lack the voice, position and strength to do so.
Sydney Brammer