Sex trafficking is a severe violation of human rights that affects communities worldwide. In California, a place known for its diversity and economic opportunities, sex trafficking is a troubling problem that impacts people from different backgrounds, ages, and genders. It’s important to understand that some communities, like the Filipino community, are at a higher risk of falling victim to this crime.
The Filipino community, like many other immigrant groups in California, faces unique challenges that make them more susceptible to sex trafficking. These challenges include financial difficulties, language barriers, and not being familiar with the legal system. Additionally, the strong bonds within immigrant communities can be both a source of support and a barrier to seeking help, as individuals may fear bringing shame to their families or communities.
In this blog, we will explore the issue of sex trafficking in California. We will look at the different forms it takes, how widespread it is, and how it specifically affects the Filipino community. We’ll also discuss why some cultural factors make it difficult for victims to report these crimes, the laws in place to address the issue, and how community efforts are helping to fight against this terrible crime.
What is Sex Trafficking?
Human trafficking is a terrible crime where people are forced, tricked, or coerced into doing things against their will. Sex trafficking is a specific type of human trafficking that involves forcing or exploiting people to engage in sexual activities for money or profit. This crime takes various forms, such as forced prostitution, pornography, or sexual servitude and often involves women and children.
Victims of sex trafficking are subjected to physical and emotional abuse, and their basic human rights are violated. Sex traffickers trick and hurt their victims to earn from performing sexual acts. Common activities seen in a sex trafficking scheme involves:
- Recruitment: Sex traffickers use tricks to make potential victims do what they want. They might promise a better life or a good job, but it’s all a lie. They look for people who are struggling with money or don’t have much support.
- Harboring and Transportation: Once traffickers trick someone, they keep them hidden and move them to different places secretly, even to other states or countries, so the police can’t find them.
- Force, Lies, or Threats: Sex and human traffickers may use force, lies, or threats to control the victims. They might hurt them, lie to them, or say they will hurt their family. They take away important documents to make it hard for the victims to escape.
- Sexual Exploitation: The main goal of sex trafficking is to make money from sexual services. Victims are forced to do sexual acts like prostitution, pornography, or serving others sexually. This causes a lot of pain and suffering.
Labor Trafficking
There’s also another type of trafficking called “labor trafficking.” In this, people are forced to work without their permission. Victims of labor trafficking often work in bad conditions, get paid very little, or not at all. This can happen in different jobs like farming, cleaning houses, construction, or factories.
Child Trafficking
Child human and sex trafficking is a particularly distressing aspect of trafficking that specifically targets minors. Children are coerced, manipulated, or forced into engaging in sexual activities or hard manual labor for the profit of traffickers. These vulnerable victims are subjected to physical and emotional abuse, and their exploitation is a grave violation of their rights. Child sex trafficking can involve forced prostitution, child pornography, or other forms of sexual exploitation.
Prevalence of Sex Trafficking in California
California is unfortunately a hotspot for sex trafficking due to its large population and extensive network of highways and ports. This thriving illicit industry affects people from all walks of life, including the Filipino community.
According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, they have received 44,942 reports (through calls, SMS reports, online reports, emails, and web chats) in California since it started its operations last 2007. The hotline has handled 12,696 cases up-to-date, involving more than 24,000 human, labor, and sex trafficking victims.
Its 2021 data showed that:
- Of 1,217 cases reported this year, 84% or 1,023 involved sex trafficking in California.
- Citizenship also seems to be a significant factor as 130 individuals are foreign nationals and 111 are on LPR or lawful permanent resident visa status.
- 978 are adult victims while the rest involve minors.
Cases Involving Filipinos in California
The Filipino community in California is not immune to the horrors of trafficking sex trafficking. Vulnerable individuals, especially women and girls, may be coerced into this life of exploitation. Many sex trafficking operations operate within the hospitality industry, preying on victims who work there. The recruitment methods are often subtle, including false promises of legitimate job opportunities, followed by force or manipulation.
The Kingdom of Jesus Christ Case
In 2021, nine individuals, including the leader of a Philippine-based church known as the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, were charged in a 42-count indictment with orchestrating labor and sex trafficking of Filipino women and minors. The church heads allegedly coerced its victims to engage in sexual activities with the church’s leader, Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, under the threat of “eternal damnation.”
The indictment expands on earlier charges against three Los Angeles-based administrators of the church, revealing that church members were brought to the United States with fraudulently obtained visas and forced to solicit donations for a fake charity, the Children’s Joy Foundation (CJF). These donations were, in fact, used to fund the church’s operations and lavish lifestyles of its leaders.
Church members who succeeded in soliciting donations for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ were allegedly forced into fake marriages or obtained fraudulent student visas to continue their fundraising efforts in the United States year-round. The victims were threatened with physical and verbal abuse and told that such activities were “God’s will” and a demonstration of their commitment to Quiboloy as “The Appointed Son of God.”
The alleged sex trafficking scheme began as early as 2002 and continued until at least 2018. Victims who complied were rewarded with various benefits, while those who resisted experienced unlawful injury, threats, harassment, and allegations of criminal misconduct. The church also allegedly confiscated workers’ identification, forced them to solicit money illegally, and fraudulently obtained immigration statuses for compliant workers.
The Rainbow Bright Case
In February 2023, three members of the Filipino-American Gamos family were sentenced to prison in San Mateo County Superior Court for human trafficking and labor-related crimes in the Bay Area. They operated the Rainbow Bright daycare and residential care company in Daly City for over a decade.
They targeted fellow Filipino immigrants, using threats of arrest, deportation, and false promises of immigration help while confiscating passports. Employees endured grueling conditions, with excessive work hours and sleeping on floors or in garages. Threats of reporting them to immigration officials and passport confiscation prevented them from leaving.
The jury found the defendants guilty of gaining over $500,000 through their scheme and acting with extreme cruelty. Sentences: Joshua Gamos – nine years, eight months; Noel Gamos – five years; Carlina Gamos – five years, eight months. Gerlen Gamos, who previously pleaded guilty, awaits sentencing.
While this case is more about human trafficking, it highlighted that trafficking still remains a significant issue in California, affecting various industries. Attorney General Rob Bonta reaffirmed the state’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of all Californians.
Cultural Factors and Challenges
Cultural factors, including language barriers and fear of deportation, often deter members of the Filipino community from reporting incidents of sex trafficking in California. Shame and stigma can further prevent victims from seeking help. Community awareness and support are crucial in breaking down these barriers and encouraging victims to come forward.
There is help. ‘Di ka nag-iisa.
Sex trafficking is a serious problem in California, and it doesn’t discriminate – it impacts people from different backgrounds, including the Filipino community. Ultimately, California laws and community initiatives like Kapwa Justice sharing the same culture and goal creates a positive impact in the fight against this grave human rights violation.Together, we can work to protect our communities and put an end to this terrible injustice. Andito kami para sa’yo.
