The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution that now links public resources to the work of civic organizations to educate the public and prevent human trafficking.
The initiative of Supervisor Nora Vargas refers to the fact that San Diego County places first of the regions with the highest number of cases of human trafficking for labor and sexual purposes.
The resolution will make it easier for direct victims of human trafficking and their families to have the resources they need.
One of the aspects of human trafficking emphasized by the supervisor and leaders in the county is that the public needs to know how widespread the problem of human trafficking is, as the victims are often confused.
The initiative will be reviewed 180 days to analyze its progress by communicating with the public and providing medical, psychological, legal, shelter, and other forms of assistance to survivors of trafficking, and their families.
Supervisor Vargas noted that help for victims of human trafficking is available regardless of the victims' immigration status.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan confirmed that when it comes to services for victims of human trafficking there is no distinction, an undocumented person is helped equally to one with U.S. citizenship.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), San Diego County ranks 13th on the national list of regions with the worst statistics for human trafficking.
The FBI estimates that there are between 3,000 and as many as 8,000 cases of trafficking in San Diego County each year.
