The Forgotten

Hidden in Plain Sight

Human trafficking is happening in every state, in every county, in communities that look nothing like what people imagine when they hear the term. It happens in suburban neighborhoods, on school campuses, in hotels and truck stops and online platforms. The people being trafficked are often hidden in plain sight — and the people doing it rely on our willingness to not look too closely.

Trafficking is not always what it looks like in movies — a stranger in a van. More often it is a trusted person: a boyfriend, a family member, a recruiter who offered a real-looking opportunity. It operates through manipulation, coercion, debt bondage, and the exploitation of people who are already vulnerable.

Castaway Warriors uses documentary film and advocacy to break the silence — and to educate communities so they can recognize what they're looking at and act.

The Numbers

27M+
People are estimated to be trapped in forced labor and sex trafficking worldwide at any given time
#1
Texas consistently ranks among the top states for reported human trafficking cases in the United States
$150B
Generated annually by forced labor globally — making human trafficking one of the most profitable criminal enterprises in the world
50%
Of trafficking victims are children — many of whom were first exploited by someone they knew and trusted

What Human Trafficking Is — and Isn't

Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain labor or commercial sex. It does not require crossing a border. It does not require physical chains. The control is often psychological — debt, manipulation, threats to family members, the slow erosion of a person's sense of what is normal.

Who Is Most Vulnerable

  • Runaway and homeless youth — particularly LGBTQ+ youth rejected by their families
  • Foster care youth aging out of the system without support
  • Survivors of domestic violence or childhood sexual abuse
  • Immigrants who are undocumented or in precarious visa situations
  • People with substance use disorders who are manipulated through addiction
  • Anyone experiencing acute financial crisis

Warning Signs

  • Someone who appears to be controlled or spoken for by another person
  • Signs of physical abuse, malnourishment, or exhaustion
  • Living with employer or in employer-provided housing with many others
  • Not in control of their own identification documents
  • Scripted or inconsistent answers when talking to others without their companion present
  • A minor who appears to be in a sexual or romantic relationship with an adult

If You Suspect Trafficking

Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 | Text: 233733 (BeFree). Available 24/7. Confidential. They can help identify resources and connect survivors to support.

Do not attempt to intervene directly — contact the hotline or law enforcement instead. Your safety and the safety of the potential victim depend on it.

The Role of Education

  • Communities that know what to look for are the first line of defense
  • Schools, healthcare providers, and faith communities can all be trained to recognize warning signs
  • Documentary film and media are among the most effective tools for building widespread awareness

What You Can Do

Awareness Saves Lives

Human trafficking survives on silence and ignorance. Every person who knows what to look for is a potential lifeline. Share what you've learned here.

Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 Contact Us