In Our Backyard: Human Trafficking in America and What We Can Do to Stop It

© 2015 by Nita Belles

Published by Baker Books

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakerbooks.com

Ebook edition created 2015

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4412-4858-9

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Published in association with Ambassador Literary Agency, Nashville, TN.

While all the human trafficking incidents described in this book are true, stories have occasionally been dramatized to convey the tragedy of human trafficking on a personal level. In addition, names and other identifying characteristics have been changed in some instances to protect victims’ privacy and safety.

Whenever a name has been changed to protect identity, an asterisk (*) follows the name when it first appears. Out of respect, all victims’ statements have been quoted verbatim. The author chose not to correct or draw attention to any grammatical errors made by those whose native language is not English.

Some of the material contained in this book is for mature audiences.

"For those who have joined the modern-day abolitionist movement, Nita Belles’s In Our Backyard is a vital resource and tool. I am thankful Baker has made it available to a wide audience. I highly recommend it. The information on potential indicators of human trafficking should be required reading for every concerned citizen."

—Francine Rivers, author of Redeeming Love

I’m the father of three and grandfather of five, so Nita Belles’s book strikes home. What she offers is knowledge of an unspeakable evil—human trafficking. Information is power. Thus we who love our children owe Nita a huge debt of gratitude. In this well-written, arresting book, we have the information we need to defend those we love most. What greater gift could a writer give parents, grandparents, and any decent person?

—Frank Schaeffer, author of Why I Am an Atheist Who Believes in God

"In Our Backyard is an excellent introduction to learning about human trafficking, but it is more than that. It is a call to action. So many times, after learning that slavery still exists, people become overwhelmed and don’t know what to do, where to start, how to help. What I love about this book are the discussion questions and the lists of practical, simple actions that are provided in each chapter. Each one of us can combat human trafficking, and it is imperative that each one of us does just that or it won’t end. I was a high school history teacher for years and would tell my students about the ‘tea drinkers’ of history—those who lamented a social ill but did nothing more than talk about it over their tea time. The ‘tea drinkers’ never changed anything. We need fewer ‘tea drinkers’ and more activists. This book will help you kick over the tea table and get started in the fight against modern-day slavery!"

—Kylla Lanier, cofounder and deputy director of Truckers against Trafficking

"Too often the problem of human trafficking is talked about in terms of abstract numbers or statistics. In her carefully researched book, In Our Backyard, Nita Belles seeks to change that. By telling the harrowing story of numerous trafficking victims, Belles puts a human face on human trafficking. Trafficking victims are, as Belles makes clear, everyday people. They live among us in suburban communities, rural towns, and urban areas and in both rich neighborhoods and poor ones. Victims are US born and those born outside our borders. Some are educated; others, without schooling. They’re women and girls mostly, but also boys. In short, they can be anyone. By telling the haunting stories of victims from all different walks of life, Belles shows us how traffickers recruit and dehumanize them as well as the emotional and physical toll that trafficking can take. The problem is a daunting one. But Belles’s book isn’t to be read passively. It’s a call to action. Every one of us can make a difference to end one of the greatest evils of our times, and in In Our Backyard, Nita Belles shows us how to do just that."

—Anna Bastian, Bastian Center for the Study of Human Trafficking

"The aptly titled In Our Backyard is superb, driving home that human trafficking occurs across town, not just across oceans. Belles compellingly calls for action based on the truth that every human life is of equal, enormous value—all created in the Creator’s image. Belles shows how trafficking victims aren’t ‘illegal aliens’—they are ensnared migrants and, often, pimped US citizens. In Our Backyard does as much as any book to shed light on how economic forces—greed and demand, and even advertising—propel trafficking. Belles carefully documents how sex trafficking is inextricably linked to prostitution and pornography as the flypaper preventing victim’s flight."

—Mark Lagon, former US ambassador and director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and former executive director and CEO of Polaris Project

Nita Belles’s book detailing the shocking reality of forced labor and sex trafficking in the United States is a must-read.

—Lynne Hybels, author, cofounder of Willow Creek Community Church

I have had the opportunity to see firsthand the passion Ms. Belles has for victims of human trafficking all across our country. I am very pleased to have had the honor to work alongside Nita. It is somewhat overwhelming to work in the presence of someone who has truly made a difference in so many people’s lives.

—Heather Wagner, special assistant attorney general for attorney general Jim Hood of Mississippi

This book is dedicated to all the precious ones being used as modern-day slaves, to those of you who are sleeping in doorways or on the floors of garages, utility rooms, warehouses, crowded houses and apartments, and other places you never wanted to be. It’s for those of you who have given up hope of finding help and those of you with a shred of hope left.

It comes with a message that you are loved—by people you’ve given up on, by a God who loves you in the midst of your circumstances—and with a message that many of us who care are on the move. We are committed to doing what we can and to petitioning God on your behalf for the rest. Yes, you are loved. Believe it.

Contents

Cover    1

Title Page    2

Copyright Page    3

Endorsements    4

Dedication    5

Acknowledgments    9

Preface    11

1. Modern Slavery: It’s Everywhere    15

2. Eyes That See, Hearts That Care, Hands That Help    41

3. From Farm to Factory    63

4. Just the Help    81

5. An Illusion of Pleasure    101

6. What’s Love Got to Do with It? Absolutely Nothing!    119

7. To the Super Bowl and Beyond    147

8. Why Victims Stay    167

9. Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing    185

10. On the Front Lines of Modern Slavery    203

Appendix: Recognizing the Signs    219

Notes    223

About the Author    235

Back Ads    237

Back Cover    238

Acknowledgments

After many months and even years of hard work, I would like to thank numerous people who have helped make this book possible. Thanks to the many survivors, government officials, law enforcement personnel, ex-perpetrators, and those who work with victims in rescue and recovery for your time and your willingness to be vulnerable in order to help others by sharing from your lives.

Thanks to my family for putting up with my being endlessly busy and preoccupied with this work. A huge thanks to my wonderful husband, Dan; without his unending support, his long days and nights of working with me on this issue, and his patience and love, I couldn’t have written this book and couldn’t do what I do each day.

Most of all, I give thanks to God.

These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor. 13:13)

May this book help to demonstrate that love in helping to end the atrocity of modern slavery.

Preface

We have only begun to scratch the surface in the fight against human trafficking. If there were only one soul still being trafficked, our fight against this atrocity would continue, but the ugly truth is that there are millions. We have much more work remaining.

This book is a resource to help regular citizens understand what human trafficking is, how to recognize it, and what to do if they see it. Human trafficking exists in every state and nearly every city. If you look hard enough, you’ll even find it in our nation’s small towns and in the countryside. In short, it’s in our backyard. And we can all help stop this atrocity.

I live in a beautiful rural area. Our region consists of small, sleepy western towns, cities, and farming communities, with some of the seemingly safest streets in the country. Tourism abounds here, with 315 days of sunshine a year, wide-open spaces, rivers, lakes, mountains, and air that smells so good it should be bottled. Not surprisingly, this area attracts conventions and other gatherings, as well as wealthy (some very wealthy) individuals looking for upscale and resort living. If human trafficking can happen in my hometown, it can and does happen anywhere. No community is immune.

I began to study human trafficking while working on my master’s degree in 2005. The stories I uncovered were the most tragic I had ever known. What can I do? I asked. The answer that came surprised me: Write a book about human trafficking.

I had never written a book before—my gifts seemed to be in teaching, training, networking, motivating, and caring deeply about individuals. Doing those things came easily to me. By contrast, writing this book was very difficult. I felt I was being asked to do something not impossible but well out of my comfort zone.

My hope is that this book will help save some child, some young woman, some young man, as it encourages all of us to love as we would want to be loved in this fight against human trafficking and beyond. I’ve written stories I’ve seen and heard, stories that have broken my heart and, I suspect, will break yours as well.

It certainly broke my heart when I learned about what was happening in other places around the globe. But when I understood what was happening here in America, in this country where I live and which I dearly love, I knew this is where I was called to make a difference. I have lived my entire life here and never realized until 2006 that slavery still exists on US soil. I had to do something.

What do I have to offer the victims and survivors of modern slavery? While I’m often described as an expert on this subject, I am still learning every day. My best teachers, and the ones I respect beyond words, are those who have survived and are surviving this atrocity.

None of us can be all things to all people. I wouldn’t last long kicking down brothel doors and grabbing pimps by the back of the neck with a Listen here, young man! But most of us can tell people about human trafficking, sit with a victim and listen to him or her, guide victims to services to help in their recovery, work to improve legislation, call the authorities when we see something that looks suspiciously like human trafficking, and network with anti-trafficking organizations and agencies. By doing these things, we can take a stand and might even save lives in our own community.

This book is not intended to be an all-inclusive look at modern slavery in the United States, but rather a sampling to inspire you to uncover more truths about this outrage for yourself. Although I mention the work of many organizations, I have intentionally not endorsed specific anti-trafficking organizations. Instead, once you realize how pervasive this tragedy of human trafficking is, I encourage you to get behind one or more of the many anti-trafficking groups, especially in your own backyard, and support it as a volunteer or by financial donations.

I must admit I hesitated to share some reports of victims’ experiences that are so horrific I feared you might be tempted to doubt them. But to give you the full scope of what’s really happening in our country, I have included a number of them anyway. Unfortunately, the truth is sometimes worse than what you might imagine.

1

Modern Slavery

It’s Everywhere

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men [or women] do nothing.

—Edmund Burke

Sarah* carefully navigated the early-morning traffic to school in Betsy, a silver 2003 Honda Accord with black leather seats and bright chrome wheels, which her parents had given her for her sixteenth birthday. Two weeks earlier, her parents had thrown her a sweet-sixteen birthday party with pizza and prizes at church after youth group. All her closest friends had come and watched as she was presented with Betsy. A big sign on the windshield read HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARE-BEAR! Sare-Bear was her parents’ endearing name for her and a reminder of how special she was to them.

The present, however, had come with conditions. Her upper-middle-class parents had given her just two months to get a job to pay for Betsy’s gas and insurance. And despite Sarah’s 4.0 GPA, her new car also came with a curfew and the insistence from her parents that they know where she was and who she was with at all times.

The morning had not started off well. Sarah hated arguing with her mom, but lately her parents’ rules had been getting under her skin. With privilege comes responsibility, they said. But now they were even telling her what she could and couldn’t wear. Just last week she had bought a shirt from Abercrombie that her mom made her return because it was too tight and too low. She didn’t really want to be a bad girl; she just wanted to fit in with what the other kids were wearing. Besides, she really liked that shirt!

As she pulled into the school parking lot, she saw her new friend Maggie* wearing the exact shirt she’d been forced to return. Maggie not only had nice clothes, but she had all the freedom she wanted. This was high school after all, the time to have fun. Why couldn’t her parents be more like Maggie’s?

Hey, Sarah! Maggie was always so happy to see her and seemed truly friendly. How was your weekend?

It was good. My family went to the beach. I really like your shirt! I actually bought that shirt, but my mom made me return it.

Why? Was there something wrong with it?

No, my parents thought it was too tight. Maybe I should have bought a bigger size. In front of Maggie, Sarah always felt like she had to make excuses for her parents’ rules.

That’s how these are supposed to be worn. Hey, I’ll give you mine tomorrow. I’m going to the mall tonight, and I’ll get myself something new. Besides, I think this is a better color for you than for me. It will look so cute on you.

Maggie, you don’t have to do that. Besides, my mom would freak out if she saw me wearing that after she made me take it back.

Why would you need to tell her? Just leave it in your locker here at school.

Before Sarah could say anything, Maggie continued. Your parents seem really strict. I’m trusted to make my own rules. I don’t have curfews. I do what I want, when I want to do it.

That sounded good to Sarah, especially after the way she and her parents had been butting heads lately. They said she was rebellious, but how could she not be? They didn’t seem to understand her or her needs. They had no idea what it was like to be a teenager today.

The next day, Maggie came not only with the coveted shirt but with another one as well. Here’s the shirt I promised, along with this other one I thought would look so sweet on you. It will show off your curves. If you’ve got it, flaunt it! They both laughed.

I can’t take both of these. I don’t know how I could possibly pay you back, Sarah said. She had been applying for jobs at all the clothing stores in the mall as well as at all the fast-food places, but no one seemed to be hiring.

Don’t worry about it. Maggie winked at her. There’s more where that came from. Let’s hurry before we’re late for history.

Sarah changed into the new shirt after first period and ate lunch with Maggie that day.

"Doesn’t it feel good to wear what you want to wear? You look so pretty in that shirt! You’re doing the right thing by following your heart."

Their friendship grew. Maggie was so at ease with herself, a trait Sarah admired.

And she loved how Maggie made her laugh. Even though her jokes were a little crude, Maggie was so much fun and her life seemed so much more exciting than Sarah’s. Before long, Sarah confided in Maggie about her unsuccessful job search.

I need to get a job to pay for insurance and gas for my car. Plus, I want to be able to buy some clothes to keep at school so my parents can’t forbid them, she said with a sigh.

Hey, the work I do is really easy. I can totally set you up, Maggie offered. All you have to do is go on a date with this guy. You’ll have to make out a little, but it won’t be a big deal. And I can get you forty bucks for it, which should cover your gas for the week.

Who is the guy?

No one we know. He’s older and just a little lonely. You just have to pretend you really like him for a couple of hours. It’s easy money!

Forty bucks to go out on a date? That sounded good to Sarah. Her parents would think she was at the school football game, and she could still make her curfew. The guy was in his twenties and she’d only be with him for a short time. Besides, the idea that her parents would think she was at the game while she was earning some quick cash seemed exciting.

Slippery Slope

The date didn’t quite go as advertised. The guy demanded more than just making out. Sarah was uncomfortable at first, but it wasn’t like she had sex with him. He only pushed to get to second base, as the girls at school would say.

As promised, Maggie was waiting for Sarah after the date. She soothed her friend’s concerns, and they had time to grab a Coke before Sarah had to go home. Maggie mixed some vodka in hers but Sarah declined. The date was one thing, but she knew better than to drink and drive. As they chatted, Maggie shared her weekend plans, which included not just one date but two, and with different men no