Demographics and Statistics

- The United States is one of the top three destination countries to which people are trafficked into modern-day slavery.
Source: UN Office on Drugs and Crime, May 2003

- Approximately 800,000 to 900,000 persons are trafficked across international borders annually and an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 persons are trafficked annually into the United States. This does not include internal trafficking.
Source: U.S. Department of State, 2003 Trafficking in Persons Report

- Over 200,000 youth are victims of commercial sexual exploitation (including trafficking) within the United States.
Source: Richard J. Estes and Neil Alan Weiner, The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the United States, Canada and Mexico, September 2001

- Since January 2001, the U.S. Department of Justice has charged, convicted, or secured sentences for 92 human traffickers in 21 cases.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, February 2003

- Since October 2000, the Office of Refugee Resettlement has issued a total of 423 certification or eligibility letters to victims of trafficking, including minors.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement, July 2003

- As of June 2003, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services granted about 370 continued presence requests and approved 172 T visa applications (13 denied; 283 pending).
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Assessment of U.S. Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons, August 2003