Human Trafficking In Plain Sight — Houston, The World Cup, And What Every Citizen Needs To Know With Lara Coursey

Introduction: The Crime Most People Never See

Sometimes the most dangerous problems are not the ones hidden in darkness. They are the ones hiding in plain sight. Human trafficking is one of those problems.

Most Americans have heard the term. Many think they understand it. Few truly do. Ask ten people to describe human trafficking and many will picture the same scene: a stranger kidnapping a young woman from a parking lot and transporting her across state lines.

While kidnappings do occur, that image does not represent how most trafficking actually happens. The reality is far more complicated. Far more disturbing. And it is far more common than most people realize.

Human trafficking often begins with trust. A boyfriend. A family member. A friend. An employer. Someone who appears caring and supportive. Someone who gradually gains influence and control. Someone who uses manipulation, coercion, financial dependence, emotional abuse, intimidation, addiction, or threats to trap another human being.

One of the most important lessons Lara and I hope readers take away from this article is that trafficking rarely looks like the movies. It often looks ordinary. That is exactly why it remains hidden.

As Houston hosts seven FIFA World Cup matches in 2026, awareness has become increasingly important. Major international events attract visitors, tourism, business activity, and economic opportunity attract.

Unfortunately, they can also attract criminal activity. Organizations throughout Houston are already working to educate the public, train businesses, increase awareness, and reduce opportunities for exploitation. One of those organizations is Freedom Collaborative.

Meet Lara Coursey

Lara Coursey is the Founder and Director of Freedom Collaborative, a faith-based anti-human trafficking nonprofit dedicated to prevention, awareness, education, and community engagement. For more than eight years, Lara has worked alongside churches, nonprofits, law enforcement agencies, businesses, and community leaders throughout the Houston area.

Her mission is simple but powerful:

Educating communities.
Prevent exploitation.
Connect victims with resources.
And help citizens recognize what trafficking actually looks like.

Each year Lara leads a large community awareness event bringing together anti-trafficking organizations and resources designed to educate and equip the public.

Today she is also leading a citywide World Cup awareness campaign focused on reducing demand and curbing sex buying before the tournament arrives in Houston. In addition to her nonprofit work, Lara is a Functional Nutritionist, founder of Naturally Yew, and continues her two-decade career in the oil and gas industry. Her perspective is unique because she works directly with organizations addressing trafficking while also understanding how businesses, communities, and everyday citizens can play a role in prevention.

The Business of Human Exploitation

Most people do not realize the financial scale of human trafficking. The numbers are staggering. According to statistics shared by Lara, human trafficking generates approximately $150 billion in profit worldwide every year. To put that into perspective, that figure exceeds the combined profits of companies such as Intel, Microsoft, Nike, Google, and Starbucks. Think about that.

A criminal enterprise built on exploitation generates more profit than some of the largest and most successful corporations on Earth. That reality tells us something important. Human trafficking is not a small problem. It is not isolated. It is not disappearing. It is a massive global industry. And like every industry, it survives because there is demand.

One of the most difficult conversations surrounding trafficking involves buyers. Trafficking exists because people are willing to purchase access to other human beings. Without demand, traffickers lose their market. Without buyers, exploitation becomes far less profitable. That is why many anti-trafficking advocates believe reducing demand must become part of any long-term solution.

The Human Cost

Statistics help us understand the scale of a problem. But statistics alone cannot capture human suffering. Behind every number is a real person. A child. A daughter. A son. A sister. A brother. A friend. A life.

According to information Lara shared, only 1% of sex trafficking victims ever escape and successfully return home. One percent. Pause and think about that.

Imagine being trapped in a situation where the odds of escape are almost impossible. The average lifespan after entering the commercial sex trade is approximately seven years. Victims often endure extraordinary levels of violence and trauma. Many are forced to perform twenty to thirty sexual acts each day. Sixty-five percent report physical assault by customers. Sixty-eight percent test for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the same range as combat veterans and victims of state-organized torture. Those comparisons are not made lightly. Combat veterans and torture survivors experience some of the most severe psychological trauma known to mental health professionals.

Yet trafficking victims frequently experience similar levels of emotional injury. Perhaps heartbreaking is another statistic. Eighty-nine percent of individuals involved in commercial sexual exploitation report that they want to escape but believe they have no options. They want out. But they feel trapped. They fear retaliation. They fear homelessness. They fear losing their children. They fear violence. They fear they will not be believed.

Many have been manipulated so thoroughly that they cannot imagine a path forward. That is why outreach matters. That is why awareness matters. That is why a single phone call can literally save a life.

Why Houston Is Different

Houston occupies a unique position in the United States. Several factors make it particularly attractive to traffickers.

Geography is one factor. Houston sits relatively close to the Mexican border and serves as a major transportation hub. The city also lies along the Interstate 10 corridor, one of the most important transportation routes in the country.

Commerce is another factor. Houston is home to major energy companies, medical institutions, shipping operations, conventions, and business travel. Large numbers of visitors move through Houston every year. And wherever large numbers of people and money converge, traffickers often follow.

Lara explained something that deserves careful consideration. Anything that attracts men with money tends to attract sex trafficking. That includes conventions. Sporting events. Business travel. Tourism. And entertainment districts.

According to data shared during our discussion, approximately one in twenty men nationally have purchased sex online. In Houston, that figure reportedly rises to one in five. If accurate, that represents a significant level of demand.

Another startling statistic estimates that approximately 2,869 men visit brothels within Houston city limits every day. That number does not include online purchases or street-level transactions. Only brothel activity.

Even more surprising, Lara noted that the most common time men visit brothels is during their lunch break. That reality challenges stereotypes. Trafficking does not always occur in dark alleyways or hidden locations. Often it occurs during normal business hours. In ordinary places. In plain sight.

Children at Risk

Among the most troubling aspects of trafficking is the exploitation of children.

According to statistics shared by Lara, the average age a child enters trafficking is thirteen years old.

Thirteen. An age when children should be focused on school, sports, friendships, and growing into adulthood. Instead, many become targets for grooming and exploitation.

The digital world has introduced new challenges. The average age a child first encounters pornography is now approximately nine years old. More than half of children between eleven and thirteen have already been exposed to pornography.

Parents today face challenges previous generations never imagined. Children have unprecedented access to information. Unfortunately, predators have unprecedented access to children as well. Experts increasingly express concern about the connections between online exploitation, grooming, pornography consumption, and trafficking demand.

While those conversations can be uncomfortable, they are necessary. If we are serious about protecting children, we must be willing to discuss the environments in which exploitation begins. And increasingly, those environments include phones, tablets, computers, gaming platforms, and social media. The internet has transformed communication. It has also transformed exploitation.

The Myths We Believe and the Reality We Need to Understand

One of the greatest obstacles to fighting human trafficking is misinformation. Many people simply do not know what trafficking actually looks like.

Hollywood has conditioned us to believe traffickers are strangers lurking in parking lots waiting to abduct victims. While stranger abductions do occur, they represent only a small fraction of trafficking situations. The reality is far more disturbing because it is far more personal.

According to statistics shared by Freedom Collaborative:

36% of traffickers are immediate family members
27% are boyfriends or girlfriends
14% are family friends
14% are employers
Only 9% are strangers

Read those numbers again. 91% of traffickers are someone the victim already knows. Someone they trust. Someone who has access to their life. Someone who understands their vulnerabilities. This reality changes everything.

Trafficking often begins with grooming rather than force. A trafficker identifies emotional needs. A desire for affection. Financial insecurity. Family instability. Housing needs. Feelings of isolation. Then they gradually position themselves as the solution. Victims are manipulated into dependency before exploitation begins. By the time exploitation occurs, many victims feel emotionally trapped. Some believe they are in a relationship. Others fear losing housing or financial support. Some fear violence. Others fear what may happen to their children or loved ones.

Understanding these realities helps explain why many victims do not simply walk away. The chains holding them are often psychological long before they become physical.

Why the World Cup Matters

Some people ask why anti-trafficking organizations are so concerned about the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The answer is not complicated. Large events create opportunities. Houston will host seven World Cup matches. Not one. Seven. That means hundreds of thousands of visitors arriving over an extended period.

Hotels will be full. Restaurants will be crowded. Bars will be packed. Transportation systems will be busy. Entertainment venues will experience increased traffic.

Most visitors will come to enjoy a world-class sporting event. Unfortunately, traffickers often view large events differently. They see opportunity. They see potential buyers. They see increased demand.

Lara explained that trafficking follows predictable patterns. When tourism increases, traffickers often increase activity. When large numbers of people enter a city, exploitation opportunities expand. That is why Freedom Collaborative is working now rather than waiting until the tournament begins.

Education before a crisis is always more effective than reacting afterward. The goal is not fear. The goal is preparation.

What Freedom Collaborative Is Doing

Freedom Collaborative has launched a broad awareness campaign throughout Houston. The organization is seeking partnerships with hotels, restaurants, bars, apartment communities, businesses, churches, community organizations, educational institutions. The campaign message is straightforward: “It is now a felony in the State of Texas to purchase sex.”

Awareness is powerful. Many people remain unaware of changes in Texas law. Many businesses are unaware of the warning signs associated with trafficking. Many employees have never received trafficking awareness training. Freedom Collaborative aims to change that.

The organization provides educational materials that can be displayed throughout the community. The objective is simple:

Educate potential buyers.
Inform potential victims.
Equip businesses.
Empower citizens.
Reduce demand.
Increase reporting.
Save lives.

What Human Trafficking Looks Like in Real Life

One of the most important questions Lara addressed was: What should people look for? Most trafficking situations do not announce themselves. There is rarely a sign saying exploitation is occurring. Instead, citizens must learn to recognize patterns.

Potential indicators include:

A person who appears fearful or anxious.
Someone who seems unable to speak freely.
Another individual answering all questions on their behalf.
Signs of physical abuse.
Extreme fatigue.
Malnourishment
Evidence is that someone is being closely monitored.
Lack of identification documents.
Branding tattoos.
Older men accompanied by significantly younger females who appear uncomfortable or controlled.

No single sign proves trafficking. However, multiple indicators together may warrant attention. The key is awareness.

Warning Signs Involving Children

Caution is required when minors are involved. Potential warning signs include:

Children working suspicious hours.
Minors present in environments that seem inappropriate.
Young people referring to unrelated adults as “uncle.”
Children who appear coached when answering questions.
Situations involving labor concerns.

According to the Department of Labor, children under fourteen generally cannot work. When young children appear to be working unusual jobs or unusual hours, questions should be asked. Again, no single indicator confirms trafficking. But unusual circumstances deserve attention.

Hotels, Restaurants, and Rideshare Drivers

Lara emphasized that ordinary citizens often encounter trafficking victims without realizing it. Hotel employees may observe suspicious room traffic. Restaurant workers may notice controlling behavior. Bartenders may witness coercion. Rideshare drivers may transport victims or buyers. Apartment managers may observe unusual patterns.

These individuals occupy important positions because they often see behavior others miss. Training frontline workers to recognize warning signs can create opportunities for intervention. Sometimes a victim cannot ask for help. But someone else may notice something is wrong.

Airbnbs and Neighborhood Awareness

One area of growing concern involves short-term rental properties. According to Lara, Airbnbs have increasingly become locations where exploitation may occur. Citizens should pay attention to unusual patterns such as:

Numerous vehicles arriving and departing throughout the day.
Heavy traffic late at night.
Short visits lasting only a few minutes.
Children entering and leaving repeatedly.
Constant activity at unusual hours.

Documentation can be valuable. Citizens can safely record:

Vehicle descriptions.
License plate numbers.
Dates.
Times.
Frequency of visits.
Duration of visits.

Law enforcement often relies upon patterns rather than isolated incidents. A single report may not tell the entire story. Multiple reports can reveal a trafficking operation.

Which brings us to the next question. What should people do when they suspect exploitation?

See Something. Say Something.

Most of us have heard this phrase. “See something. Say something.” But many people remain uncertain about what that actually means. What should be reported? Who should be contacted? What information is useful?

Lara strongly recommends downloading the Crime Stoppers app. The app allows anonymous reporting and enables users to upload photographs and videos. Anonymity is important because many people hesitate to report suspicious activity. They fear retaliation. They fear being wrong. They fear involvement. Crime Stoppers helps remove those barriers.

When reporting suspicious activity, gather information safely. Never place yourself in danger.

Instead, document:

Dates.
Times.
Locations.
Vehicle descriptions.
License plates.
Photographs when safe.
Videos when safe.
Descriptions of suspicious behavior.

Then report what you observed. Continue reporting if suspicious activity persists. Patterns often emerge over time.

Important Resources

National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888

Rescue America Hotline: 833-599-FREE

Texas Workforce Commission: 800-628-5115

Vice Division: 713-308-8600

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo: 713-274-7000

Email: judge.hidalgo@harriscountytx.gov

Citizens may also contact:

Houston Police Department
Local Constables
Local Precinct Offices
Legislative Efforts Offering Hope

While trafficking remains a significant challenge, important efforts are underway.

The Renewed Hope Act of 2026

Supported by Tim Tebow, this legislation would add 200 child exploitation investigators and analysts to Homeland Security Investigations.

Current estimates indicate:

89,000 unidentified children appear in sexually abusive images and videos.
338,000 unique U.S. IP addresses downloaded, shared, or distributed child sexual abuse material during a six-month period.

Supporters believe increasing investigative resources could help identify and rescue more children.

Transaction Intercept

One of the most innovative efforts discussed by Lara involves Transaction Intercept. In 2018, Street Grace partnered with BBDO and Microsoft volunteers to develop an AI-powered platform. The platform utilizes a chatbot named Gracie.

When individuals seek underage sex online, Gracie engages them in conversation. Once criminal intent becomes clear, the system explains legal consequences, provides recovery resources, and documents information for law enforcement.

Results from Georgia testing included:

More than 54,000 messages exchanged.
More than 13,000 predators identified.

The system now operates in 25 states and 78 cities. Every intercepted conversation may represent one less child being targeted.

The Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act

Many anti-trafficking advocates believe demand reduction is essential. This legislation seeks to hold buyers accountable by making the purchase of sex a felony. Supporters point to Sweden’s experience. After implementing a similar law in 1999, Sweden reported a 76 percent reduction in street prostitution. Whether similar results would occur in the United States remains a matter of debate, but advocates believe reducing demand remains critical.

Federal Relief for Survivors

Many trafficking survivors carry criminal records resulting from acts they were forced to commit during exploitation. These records often create barriers to:

Employment.
Housing.
Education.
Financial stability.

Proposed reforms would allow survivors to seek expungement of those records. Supporters believe this would improve opportunities for long-term recovery.

T-Visas

International trafficking victims may qualify for T-Visas allowing them to remain legally in the United States. Each case receives individual review. The primary consideration is survivor safety.

The Supreme Court Age Verification Decision

Lara also discussed the Supreme Court’s recent decision supporting age-verification requirements for pornography websites. Many child-protection advocates consider the ruling one of the most significant online child safety decisions in decades. Supporters argue it creates additional barriers between children and explicit content. Critics raise privacy concerns. Regardless of perspective, the decision represents a major development in the ongoing debate over online child protection.

How Men Can Get Help

One important aspect of trafficking prevention often receives little attention. Helping potential buyers address harmful behaviors before crimes occur. United Against Human Trafficking offers an eight-week program called: Stopping Sexual Exploitation

For information:

Taylor Johnson tjohnson@uaht.org

Programs like this seek to address demand while helping participants understand the consequences of exploitation.

Volunteer Opportunities

One of the most encouraging parts of our conversation involved opportunities for ordinary citizens to help.

Freedom Collaborative Outreach

Since 2018:

More than 13,000 outreach calls have been completed.
More than 1,000 women nationwide have exited exploitation.

Freedom Collaborative connects vulnerable individuals with support services through a 24-hour hotline network.

Volunteer registration: link.freedomcollaborativehou.org/widget/form/rEPtBUlxV2bg5wdQI2WA

Rescue America Hotline Advocates

Individuals may also serve remotely as hotline advocates.

Volunteer opportunities: https://rescueamerica.ngo/volunteer

Building a National Network

Freedom Collaborative is working to expand a safe, scalable outreach model capable of serving communities nationwide. The mission is simple: Reach more women. Connect more survivors to services. Find those who have been forgotten.

Donate: https://freedomcollaborativehou.org/donate

Learn More: https://freedomcollaborativehou.org

Email: info@freedomcollaborativehou.org

A Survivor’s Words

Of everything Lara shared, perhaps nothing was more powerful than these words from a survivor: “This phone call is lifesaving. I can’t believe there are people out there that want to help me out of my situation.”

Think about that statement. Not a rescue operation. Not a dramatic intervention. A phone call.

Sometimes hope begins with knowing someone cares. Sometimes freedom begins with knowing help exists. Sometimes a single conversation changes life.

Final Thoughts

Human trafficking survives in part because it remains hidden. Not invisible. Hidden. There is a difference. Once people understand what trafficking actually looks like, they begin seeing signs they previously missed. They recognize patterns. They ask questions. They become willing to report concerns.

As Houston prepares to welcome the world in 2026, we have an opportunity to do more than host a successful sporting event. We have an opportunity to become a community that refuses to look away. A community that educates itself. A community that protects children. A community that supports survivors. A community that understands that awareness is not enough unless it leads to action.

Lara and I share a simple belief. Every person deserves freedom. Every child deserves protection. Every survivor deserves hope. And every citizen has a role to play.

If this article causes even one person to recognize a warning sign, make a report, volunteer, support a survivor, or help prevent exploitation, then it will have served its purpose. Because behind every statistic is a human being. And every human being matters.

Author’s Note:

This podcast was developed collaboratively by Dr. Jackalyn Rainosek and Lara Coursey, Founder and Director of Freedom Collaborative. The information, statistics, resources, prevention strategies, and community action items presented throughout this article reflect Lara’s years of anti-human trafficking outreach and advocacy work, combined with the educational mission of Hot Topic, Bold Talk.

Our purpose is not to tell you how to think, vote, or respond. Our purpose is to provide information that may help you better understand human trafficking, recognize warning signs, learn how to report suspicious activity, and become part of the solution.

The responsibility to become informed belongs to all of us. Because human trafficking is not someone else’s problem. It is happening in communities across America. And it is happening right here in Houston.

Episode Summary Points:

Dispelling Myths and Understanding Realities of Trafficking: Contrary to common perceptions of “stranger-danger” kidnappings, trafficking frequently involves perpetrators known to the victim, with 36% of traffickers being immediate family and 27% being intimate partners. Victims are often held through complex psychological manipulation, including trauma bonding and threats regarding their legal or employment status, making physical escape difficult.
Confronting the Demand Crisis: Sex trafficking is fueled by a staggering demand, evidenced by data showing that 1 in 5 men in Houston purchase sex. Experts highlight that pornography often serves as the entry point for this addictive cycle, and educating the public—including men—about the personal and legal consequences, such as Texas’s felony law against purchasing sex, is essential to curbing the industry.
Vigilance During Large Events: Major events like the World Cup shift trafficking patterns, as traffickers often move away from monitored hotels into short-term rentals like Airbnbs to avoid detection. Citizens are encouraged to remain observant for warning signs—such as minors with older “uncles,” signs of physical control (e.g., controlling arm-holding), exhaustion, or repetitive branding tattoos—and to document these safely.
Taking Action Through Community Reporting: The “see something, say something” approach is vital, yet many are unsure of how to report safely. Using resources like the Crime Stoppers app to submit anonymous tips, photos, and videos allows law enforcement to utilize technology like facial recognition to track patterns and build cases against traffickers.
Pathways to Exit and Recovery: Organizations like Freedom Collaborative and Rescue America provide critical infrastructure for survivors, including 24/7 hotlines, safe housing, and exit strategies. A significant breakthrough is the legal ability for survivors to expunge criminal records forced upon them while exploited, which is essential for regaining independence, securing housing, and obtaining employment.

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Watch the episode here

Listen to the podcast here

Human Trafficking In Plain Sight — Houston, The World Cup, And What Every Citizen Needs To Know With Lara Coursey

Usually, I talk about political issues and what the administration is doing that I see is destroying a lot of things in our country. There’s something, though, that I’ve known for a long time that destroys human beings. I have the privilege of having a colleague of mine, Lara Coursey, here because we’re going to talk about human trafficking.

What I think is so disturbing about this is that there seems to be a trend in America that women are being minimized and being limited in their ability to make decisions. Lara has a great opportunity to talk to us and inform us about what human trafficking is and how it affects women, girls, or young children. It affects boys as well. I’m going to turn it over to you, Lara, and let you introduce yourself and tell us about it. It’s such an important topic.

Lara’s Personal Journey And The Foundation Of Freedom Collaborative

Thank you so much for having me. This is an important topic. Although it is always important, we have seen an increase in people wanting to know more because of the World Cup, which is how this discussion began. I would like to start with how I ended up here. I have a nonprofit. It is a faith-based anti-trafficking nonprofit called Freedom Collaborative. We do a couple of things. We have an annual event where organizations can come together, and the public can learn from them and get plugged in. We have monthly volunteer and training opportunities where we get to do phone outreach.

It all started a long time ago. I did my college internship at a women’s crisis shelter. That was an eye-opening experience, and it was something that I thought I was going to pursue. I didn’t. Fast forward several years later, when I moved into Houston, I kept hearing everybody say, “Human trafficking this. Human trafficking. We’re number one.” I thought, “What is this about?”

I went to a training, and I instantly knew that it was my calling. That was something I was supposed to learn more about, and that was what I was supposed to teach more people about, who had the same questions about what all this talk is about. I created my own training hub and monthly outreach. That’s how we got started in all of this. I learn new things all the time. This is an ever-changing topic. It’s ever-changing with statistics, what’s happening, trends, and how it happens. I’m never an expert, and I don’t know if there is such a thing, because it is constantly revolving.

This has been something that has hit me so much, especially when I’ve had countless conversations with females who are in the life of exploitation. They’re like, “I had no idea somebody wanted to help me. I had no idea there was help.” To hear that hopelessness and also hope in the same voice, it will change you. That’s why I get to do what I do. It’s such a blessing. I have amazing volunteers who have come alongside me, and it has changed their lives as well. It’s been a real journey, but a blessing as well.

Thank you. Sometimes, the most tragic things that we get involved with are the things that often change our lives. You and I have talked about it. Domestic abuse is very similar to what we see in trafficking. It is sometimes a very violent, disturbing kind of abuse that these women receive. It is also disturbing to me that men think they have the right to abuse someone because they pay for it.

I would like for you to give me some statistics and factual data about what’s happening, and then we’ll get into the World Cup. I know the reason we’re concerned about the World Cup being here is that every time, human traffickers bring in tons of women, and sometimes even men. Give me lots of factual data because my audience needs to know what you have to say.

Addressing The Misconception Of Stranger Abductions And Identifying Traffickers

Sex buyers do have a sexual addiction. All of that starts with pornography. When we look at sex buyers, we have to trace it back. Pornography is the beginning, and then it escalates to strip clubs, buying sex, webcams, rape, and all of these horrible things. What most people need to know right off the bat is that prostitutes and sex trafficking victims, 90% to 95% of the time, are the same person. That is the biggest misconception. It’s the biggest misconception with sex buyers, victims, and the society that we live in. That’s how they get away with it. Everybody thinks that it’s her choice, but it’s not.

There are some very disturbing statistics that we need to look at our men in our own circles, our churches, our schools, and everywhere that our men are. One in twenty men in the United States has purchased sex. In Houston, because Houston is number one in sex trafficking, 1 in 5 men purchase sex. That, to me, is disturbing because I’m around a lot of men, and I’m thinking, “How many of them have done this? Is it may be on a regular basis? Has it been one time?”

[bctt tweet=”Sex buyers often struggle with compulsive sexual behavior, which can begin with pornography.” via=”no”]

Also, you have to look at why they are doing this. They’re broken. They have gotten caught in a cycle of addiction. That’s a staggering statistic on the sex buyer side. When we’re talking about victims and their traffickers, what is that looking like? What is so surprising to so many people when I get to do these education seminars is who the trafficker is to their victim.

Anytime you talk about trafficking, people are always like, “The movie Taken.” Let’s talk about that a little bit because that’s not what it looks like. A lot of these women are able to walk around freely. People say, “If they can walk around freely, why don’t they go to the police?” There are 99 different answers to that question, but let’s break it down.

Thirty-six percent of traffickers are immediate family to their victims. Twenty-seven percent are boyfriend-girlfriend. Fourteen percent are friends of family. Fourteen percent are employers. Only 9% of traffickers are strangers to their victims. That is the big wake-up call that people need to realize, whether it be parents, young adults, girls, or boys. Boys make up 40% of the children being trafficked, which is commonly overlooked.

When we talk about children, we’re talking about all children. That is a sad reality because when they age out, and they’re adults, they don’t get the care and attention that they need. A lot of them were groomed and brought into trafficking as minors. They don’t have an ID. They don’t have an education. They don’t have knowledge of how to fill out a resume. They get stuck in this lifestyle, and they’re not allowed to leave.

Sometimes, they enter it, thinking, “This is going to be glamorous.” This is what I want to do,” and then it quickly turns out not to be the case. They’re physically not allowed to leave, and they also put those mental chains on them as well. They’re like, “If you leave, nobody is going to want you for anything else. If you leave, you can never get a job. You are not a citizen. You’re going to get deported.” All of these things are the lies that they put around them to keep them physically here.

I’d like to use the example of if you were an American, and you were blacked out. You were dropped into the middle of a country that you’ve never been to, and they’re telling you all these things, like, “If you leave, you’re going to get into more trouble. If you leave, these extra bad things are going to happen to you.” What do you do? You’re like, “I have to stay here.” After a certain amount of time, there’s so much trauma bonding happening there that sometimes it’s scarier for them to get out than it is for them to stay because they don’t have any concept of what that looks like.

I was a therapist for eighteen years, and I’ve been in the mental health business for 48. You’re describing something I’ve seen. I think about a family that I worked with many years ago. The stepfather sexually abused the daughters who were not his, and then what ended up is that his daughter was sexually abused by an uncle.

I don’t think people understand that it’s not these strange people who come and get them. It is in the house itself. People are not aware of how much sexual addiction exists in our society. It is an addictive process. There are recovery programs for men who have this kind of problem. You can go to Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, which is more about sex, fantasy, and romance, which they try to lie to themselves about by buying sex, or you can go to Sex Addicts Anonymous. It is a recovery program as well.

What would be helpful to my readers is to tell people what it is like for these individuals. What are their ages? What age are these people? What is it like to be a part of this process? You said that they can walk around and so forth, but they know they can’t leave. Many of them are branded. I’d like for you to go into more detail about that.

The Crisis Of Child Sexual Grooming And The Impact Of Normalization

The average age at which a child is trafficked is twelve. The average age at which a child sees porn is age nine. That grooming process is happening by normalizing what they’re seeing. If they’re seeing something all the time and then somebody does something to them, they’re like, “This is normal.” That is a big part of the process. What is very interesting and probably the most disturbing statistic that we have is that since COVID, because everybody was at home on their computers, including children. The number of child sexual predators is higher than adult sexual predators.

It is child-on-child sexual abuse more than it is adult-on-child sexual abuse, but obviously, it happens at every age. You have to think. That’s a small window between 9 and 17 versus 18 to 99. What we have is a serious crisis with our children. Parents need to stop saying, “I have a good kid or this won’t happen to my kid or boys are going to be boys.” That is you honestly being partly responsible for the crisis that we’re in with our children.

That’s very true. I appreciate you giving that factual data. If a twelve-year-old is being sexually trafficked, what do the sexual buyers do? How do they treat them? What happens to them? Where do they live? I know something. If all the hotels are filled, then I can guarantee you that Airbnb’s are holding children or young adults who are being sexually trafficked. Go into more detail about that.

Recognizing Red Flags In Airbnbs And Reporting Suspicious Activity

On a regular day here in the City of Houston, first of all, you have at least one brothel in every apartment complex and every hotel. You can start there. It could be in homes or businesses. This is happening everywhere. That’s why it’s important to look around and know the signs. What has been an interesting trend that law enforcement has been seeing now that the World Cup is here. The expectation was that the hotels were going to be fully booked.

They have several sting operations going on in hotels across the World Cup, but what they’re finding is that the hotels are not fully booked as they anticipated. The people are here, but they’re not fully booked. Where are they? You already said it. Airbnb’s. There are a lot of people who are like, “I can make $30,000 this summer and rent my house out. Why don’t I do that?” They go off and do something else, and they’re renting it out.

A lot of these people are renting out to Airbnb’s because they’re not being monitored. You have potential drug, child, and human trafficking happening in your home or the home across the street from you. It’s difficult to find that and to do anything about it. When we talk about see something, say something. You need to be looking outside your window 100% because Airbnb’s are where a lot of the trafficking is happening.

[bctt tweet=”On a typical day in Houston, there is at least one brothel operating in nearly every apartment complex and hotel.” via=”no”]

The reason I say that is because I live somewhere in Houston. I won’t mention where I live, but we had an apartment complex that was across from us, and we knew that there was human trafficking. As a neighborhood, we did a lot of things to shut that down, get the owner in trouble, and a lot of other things like that. It’s important.

I’m very proud of you for taking that action because a lot of people don’t know what to do, so they don’t do anything.

We knew what was happening because we could see the people coming and going. We even talked to some of the people who lived in the complex, and they told us exactly what was happening, so we were able to do something. I’m not surprised that a lot of people don’t want to come to the United States because they don’t think they’re safe. They’re not willing to pay the high price for things and things like that, so I’m not surprised that we’re not getting people coming to Houston or Dallas.

They’re here. They aren’t in the hotels, to be clear. Trust me, we have a huge influx of people here in Houston, but they’re renting in different ways to be under the radar.

I understand. Let me ask you. What does your organization, Freedom Collaborative, do? What did you do to prepare us for the World Cup? How can local businesses do things or notice things so that we can contribute to the elimination of this very serious problem?

The Legislative Campaign Against Sex Buying And World Cup Strategy

First of all, I work with so many amazing other anti-human trafficking organizations here in Houston. We’ve been preparing for a year. We’ve been in meetings for a year for this World Cup to prepare for it. Although we’ve had the Super Bowl, the World Series, OTC, and all these big events, those are one day. This is seven games over the whole summer. People come in before and after. It’s important to understand the gravity and the scale of the situation.

The lane that we picked here at Freedom Collaborative was to create a campaign to distribute throughout the city and advertise the amazing new law that we got passed back in 2021, which is that it is a felony to purchase sex in the state of Texas. We’re the first state to pass it here in the United States. We’re very proud of it.

Most people don’t know about it. Most Texans don’t know about it. The international guests don’t know about this law. For a lot of them, it’s legal from where they’re coming from. It’s no big deal for them to be like, “I’m going to get an escort for the night.” That’s a felony. If that international visitor gets a felony conviction, they can never come back to the States again. We want to protect our visitors. We want to educate them, and we ultimately want to curb the demand. That is such a huge piece.

I know there’s a huge disconnect between when people see a sign that says, “We don’t allow human trafficking in Houston. It’s illegal to buy a prostitute.” Those are the same thing, but most people don’t know that. We drill down and put the law out there. That’s what we’re trying to distribute into our local businesses, such as our hotels, apartments, bars, restaurants, retail, and event spaces.

All of these areas can display our campaign and get the word out there. Somebody can see that and be like, “I had no idea. Let me take a step back.” That’s the whole point. If there is a QR code that explains the law and gives examples to break it down so people understand, then it has resources underneath for sex buyers, victims, and survivors. That is another key piece that we want to be able to offer as well.

I want to be sure you can put in whatever you want. Give me some links or something so that people can be much more knowledgeable. One question that I think is important to ask is, what are some of the signs of hotel employees, restaurant workers, ride share drivers, or everyday citizens that I might be able to identify that someone is being exploited?

Identifying Behavioral Signs Of Exploitation For Everyday Citizens

We always say, “See something, say something,” but most people don’t know what to look for or how to report it. That’s what I love educating about. One of the things is Airbnb’s. Look around. If you have a neighbor or somebody in your street, and there are a lot of cars coming and going, late-night visitors, and children coming in and out. Take photos. Take videos safely. We always want to protect ourselves as well. That is a big red flag.

If you’re out and about and somebody seems fearful or controlled, or instead of holding hands, he is holding her arm. That’s a red flag. If somebody’s answering all the other questions for another person and they’re not allowed to talk, that’s a red flag. Look for signs of abuse, but also exhaustion and malnourishment. When these girls are forced to work, they have to make a certain quota before they can come back. Sometimes, that might take more than a day. They’re not allowed to eat, have water, or sleep. If you see something like that, that is a definite, “Let me observe this situation for a while.”

Thank you.

Minors are a big red flag. There are labor laws here in the United States. You are not allowed to work under the age of fourteen. If you see a nine-year-old selling candies and toys outside the stadium at midnight, that’s a red flag. That’s a big one. Especially if minors are calling the adults around them uncle. Uncle is a big exploitation word in their language. If you see older men with younger females dressed as workers, we know that most escorts are being controlled by their pimp or trafficker. They don’t get to keep their money. They’re told what to do. They’re told what to wear. They’re told what to dress. They have a lot of abuse inside their living areas.

Another one is that they don’t have identification because that is a form of freedom that they don’t want them to have. Another big one is branding tattoos. Pimps and trackers brand their girls. It’s another way to keep them tied to them mentally. If you see a group of girls and they all have the same crown tattoo or barcode tattoo, you need to pay attention to that. Observe the situation. Safely take videos and photos, and then report it. We will go into how to report it.

The reason it’s so important to report these things is that law enforcement has a lot of great technology. They can track patterns, faces, times, and license plates, and then they can start building a case. If nobody reports it, then there are not enough eyes. We have a lot of extra law enforcement that’s doing a great job here in Houston for the World Cup. However, there are only so many of them, and there are all of us. There are millions of us. Let’s use our own eyes. Let’s use our own observations. It is not our job to investigate. It is not our job to know for sure. It is not our job to run them down. It is our job to observe it and report it.

[bctt tweet=”Let’s use our own eyes and our own observations. It is not our job to investigate, to be certain, or to pursue people. Our job is to observe and report what we see.” via=”no”]

That’s what I think we, as a neighborhood, did because all of us are dedicated to respecting human beings and not using them in ways that we’re describing here. One of the things that we’ve already mentioned is that most of the time, kidnapping by strangers is not it. It’s the family members. It’s people who know these children, and they end up having those things. They’re having these experiences that are out of the realm. What I would like to know is what the reason is that we got so concerned about trafficking? I know when we had the Super Bowl, trafficking became a major issue even for that day. What’s the reason we’re so concerned about human trafficking when we have the World Cup here?

The Super Bowl was a big deal. It’s not that we haven’t had other big events. However, that was the first time that a lot of organizations and the city came together to have a plan ahead of time and then to execute it. We learned a lot around the Super Bowl. There were some things that could be better, some things that didn’t work, and things that did work. They were able to use that.

At the same time, the World Cup is also a first because we’ve never had this scale. We’ve never had this many international visitors on this scale here in Houston. It is very simple. Anytime you have men with money, you are going to have an increase in trafficking. The traffickers follow all of these events. They know what men want, and they will give them a variety of people, whether they’re girls, boys, women, men, different ethnicities, different sizes, or different ages. Nobody is immune because all these sex buyers have their different fetishes and fantasies.

They’re bringing in these people from all over. A lot of our trafficking is domestic. We have international trafficking, but a lot of it is domestic. The World Cup is seven games over pretty much the main course of the whole summer. That’s a long time. When we’re talking about 1 in 5 men in Houston having paid for sex, it’s a staggering amount of demand. It boils down to demand and supply. The more demand you have, the more supply you’re going to have.

That’s one of the scary things and one of the difficult things. I’ve worked with a number of different people who are sexually addicted because I work with addiction. What do you do as an organization when you find locations where trafficking is occurring? What actions do you take to stop it?

This is a common question. I get phone calls from people who say, “I saw this. What should I do?” There’s not one answer. I want to give an example. We’ve all received a utility bill that was off. If your water bill is normally $40 and it shows up at $500. You’re like, “What are we doing here?” Do you pay that bill? No. What do you do?

Reporting Protocols And Utilizing Technology For Law Enforcement

I call, and I find out, “What the heck is going on? What have you done? What’s wrong with my house? Where is the leak?”

I’ve had that happen. I called more than once. I had them come out and re-read my meter. I wrote them a letter. I called the manager. I do this more than once. What happens a lot of times is somebody may call law enforcement, and maybe it doesn’t go anywhere on the first call. You’re like, “I can’t get it done.” If you’re going to worry about $500, you should worry about life even more.

Here are several tips on what to do. Always safely take videos and photos if you can, because they’re using facial recognition technology that can trace these people. Note the time and duration of when things are happening. Where were you? What time was it? How long did that car stay in the driveway and then leave, and then there’s another car five minutes later. How long did they stay? Keep a log.

This is my favorite tip for any sort of crime tips. Crime Stoppers has a free app. You can download it on your phone, or you can go to the computer to their tip line. You can call them, or you can submit an anonymous tip. It’s all anonymous. They look into every tip. On that app, you can automatically upload photos and videos. Write down everything that you know, such as times and location. Do that at least. Everybody in your group needs to do that. If you’re in a group of 5 people, there should be 5 tips on that hotline, not just one. Everybody has their part. The more tips, the more it gets raised.

Call your local constable. They usually also have their own online submission form that you can submit to. Call them and submit online. If you don’t know who your local constable is, all you have to do is Google your ZIP code, and it’ll pop them up. If you’re downtown at one of the stadiums, precinct one is Alan Rosson. He has his own tip line that you can report things to, especially because that’s going to be a hot spot with the World Cup.

Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline. They can disperse these things to their network of organizations and law enforcement as well. You can call and email Lina Hidalgo. Part of her job is to collect this data, especially if there are hot spots in the city that they need to address. Call HPD. They’re probably going to give you the non-emergency line. That’s fine. For minors, if you’re seeing a lot of minor action as well, go ahead and call the Vice Department. They’re a specialized department, 1) For human trafficking and, 2) For minors. That was about 5 or 6 people. Five people in your group need to be reporting all of it, too. You’re thinking, “That’s a lot of work.” It’s a life.

Maybe there’s nothing wrong, but it’s not your job to investigate. It’s not your job to take them down. It’s your job to report it. It’s better to be safe than sorry. I always like to say, especially with women, that we have women’s intuition, or if you want to call it gut instinct, or the Holy Spirit. There is something telling you there is something wrong because it is wrong. We need to harness that and not be scared of, “I don’t know what to do.” If you’re reading this, now you know what to do. You don’t need to be scared. Go do the thing and do your part as a citizen.

[bctt tweet=”You don’t need to be afraid. Go do your part and take action as a citizen.” via=”no”]

There’s another thing that you’ve emphasized over and over again. We’re talking about human beings. We’re talking about children. We’re talking about adults who have lived in family systems. A lot of times, there is alcohol, drug abuse, and other addictions that are going on in the families, so they’ve learned to accept things that are not acceptable.

Every person that I’ve ever worked with in the 48 years who is abusive to other people or abusive to themselves has been taught in their homes. They see violence, threats, and other things, so they think about what you said before. They think it’s normal. They keep participating and doing what is detrimental to them.

I’ve spent seventeen years working with one individual. It takes that long to undo the brainwashing and the real change in value structure and all kinds of things to say, “This is not reasonable.” You have to go through the process of emotionally processing it and all kinds of things. Tell me what you do when you end up knowing that you’ve got some women, men, or whatever that you can get out of the trafficking. How do you work with them? What do you do?

Survivor Exit Strategies And Scaling Anti-Trafficking Initiatives

At Freedom Collaborative, we partner with another great organization called Rescue America. They have a 24/7 hotline. What we do is distribute that hotline. There are a lot of organizations that distribute it on the streets and in person. We distribute it in a bigger net by calling and texting them. What’s amazing is we’re cold calling these people, but a lot of times, they’re like, “I had no idea.”

We can transfer them straight to the hotline if they’re ready, because a lot of times, they are. What Rescue America does is connect them with an exit strategist who will prepare their exit. They pick them up. They take them to safe housing. They do an intake to see where they need to be placed long-term. Sometimes, they need to go to rehab first. You’d be surprised. It’s not as often as you think it would. Maybe it is only about 30% of the time that they need to go to rehab first.

They have short-term and long-term rehabilitative care. Do they have children? Do they have a record that they need help getting expunged? There is a great new law that if somebody is being forced to commit crimes while they’re exploited, they can get that expunged. If they have a record, then they can’t get housing, jobs, and all these kinds of stuff that you have to have to be able to be a citizen here without having to do that type of work.

All of this is free and confidential to the people that we help get out. That is what’s amazing to see. Over the course of the last couple of years, collaboratively, we’ve had over 1,000 women exit the life of exploitation and start a new life. It’s amazing. There are so many great partnerships. For example, Southwest has partnered. If a female needs to be flown somewhere to their new housing, home, or wherever it is, they do that for free. They help them with that entire process because a lot of times, they don’t have identification. They’re an amazing partner.

We get to have these conversations with these women and be able to get them the help that they need. It is truly one of the most amazing experiences. Many times, people say, “This must be hard and heavy. I can’t imagine.” Even though the hope and the light that happens in these moments, we leave at the end of the night on such a high. It’s amazing to see what’s happening. I get goosebumps every time I talk about it. It’s truly something that you don’t get to experience in most volunteer opportunities.

That’s the reason that I’ve been in the business so long and have no intention of retiring. When I see and experience people who have had tremendous challenges in their lives or had experiences that are harmful to their human being, and then I see them work. They go to recovery programs sometimes, do other things that I suggest. They end up changing and becoming the human being they want to be. That’s the reason I’m in the business I’m in. I love seeing that.

Somebody said to me, “When are you going to retire?” I said, “I’m not retiring.” This has touched my heart for so many years that I can continue to see this. One of the things I want to say to you, and I want to mention it here, is that I want to be sure that you give us the list of the crime hotline or whatever.

When we have all those lists, and we can put them in our phones and do all that, then we can be a help. I would like for you to talk to me about anything else you would like for my readers to know about trafficking. It doesn’t matter what it is. If I need to interrupt you for a moment to clarify something, I’ll do that. I’d love to hear anything else that you think is important for them to know.

The Significance Of Legal Definitions In Dismantling Trafficking

I’ve been in this space for almost nine years. First of all, the legal term of sex trafficking is fairly new. Don’t quote me on how long, but less than twenty years, definitely. That’s important to know because without a legal definition, there are no legal solutions. Even a couple of years ago, not a whole lot was happening. In the past couple of years, I’ve seen huge differences. There have been some laws, but it takes time to get that traction.

I talked to a lot of survivors. I’ve talked to a lot of people who are working on the federal level who are survivors and are helping with legislation. They even get to see more than I do. There is a shift happening. I do think that in my lifetime, I will see the fall of the majority of trafficking here in the United States. Maybe I’m hopeful, but there are so many things that are coming in place, and there are so many things that I know that are happening, but we can’t let off the gas. This is the time that more people need to get involved.

There are so many great programs and laws that are coming about to help survivors and sex buyers. We know that sex buyers are the problem. United Against Human Trafficking and Demand Disruption are great organizations that have sex buyer classes. You can learn about it, why it’s not a good idea, how it happens, and how to get help, and it’s all with non-judgmental support.

That is so important for our men. It is so important for parents with children to take advantage of these programs in these classes. It doesn’t matter if you have the best kid in the whole wide world, which I’m sure they are. They’re exposed to things that they cannot process. When a child uses porn, it literally changes their mind. It rewires their brain. If we’re not starting at the beginning, then we’re playing catch-up for everybody else. That’s such a huge key.

I’ve had so many people come through my training who don’t have kids, but they have nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. They’ve come back and been like, “I used the information that you gave me, and we stopped this guy from grooming my niece.” That’s huge. What could have happened? Get involved, find organizations, go to programs, and go to training.

I love to connect with people. There are a lot of different lanes. If you don’t know what lane you want to be in, come to one of my trainings and I’ll point you in the right direction. This is what I love to do. We do this every month. We’re doing it twice a month for the World Cup. You can go to FreedomCollaborativeHou.org. Get the information. Email me.

This has a chance of ending. We’ve seen it end in other countries, especially Sweden. They have the lowest sex trafficking rate because they passed their sex buyer law in 1999. That was a long time ago. I graduated from high school in 1999. Look how long it took to get to that place. We passed ours in 2021. It’s going to take a while, but it can happen. There are organizations that are trying to pass that globally. We only have two states where it’s a felony, which are Texas and California. The United States has a long way to go, but we’re starting. We’re getting there.

Here’s my final message. Many people say this problem is too big for them to make a difference. That is false. If everybody says that, then nobody does anything. Everybody has a place. If you come to my outreach and get that one person, that’s a whole life. That’s a whole world that you helped get out of the life of exploitation, trauma, and abuse. You can do that. That, to me, is enough. Maybe we can’t take it all down by ourselves, but we come together. These organizations are coming together.

I love seeing all the different people come together for this cause. I work with every walk of life. We don’t care about anything else. We don’t care about our sports teams. We don’t care about political affiliations. We don’t care about that. We are working together to make this work and to end this. We hang out and have meals together. It’s beautiful because we all have one common goal. It’s fascinating to watch it. The more that you get involved in it, the more that you see it, and the more you’re like, “Maybe I can make a difference.” Don’t be intimidated by the weight and the scale of this issue. Do something.

Thank you for that. One other thing I want to say and have you say is, if I or anyone else wants to get more involved, you’ve mentioned the classes that we can take. I presume you need more volunteers or whatever else. How can we help your organization? I’m going to add a few things before you have your final word here.

Mobilizing Communities Through Volunteering And Funding For Scaling Operations

Come to a training because it’s not just what we do at our outreach. I share what else is going on in this city with other organizations. We all love each other. We’re here to spread love. Come learn and see what’s going on. One thing that we are also working on at Freedom Collaborative is the call system that we’re using is something that we’re building. Our hub here in Houston has made over 13,000 phone calls over eight years to people who need help. We have given them that information.

Imagine if every state had five hubs. What we’re doing is building a call center so that we can expand hubs all across the United States, but we need help with that. We have built it, and it is good enough for our hub to be operational, but it’s not good enough to box it up and scale it yet. We’re looking for financial partners to help us invest in these lives that we’re trying to reach.

If we can reach 13,000, then nationwide, we can reach 100,000. The goal is to get to more people. Come learn. Donate if you don’t have the time or the bandwidth. If it’s not our organization, find somebody else that you can have a connection with to get involved. I’ll help you find them. It’s FreedomCollaborativeHou.org, or you can email me from that website as well.

Thank you. It’s a very hard topic, but it’s something that I think all of us must know about. I’m going to see what the response is from my readers and see if more people want more information. They can send their statements to me. All you have to do is go to my website at DTPLeadership.com. You can go there. You can use our info. You can let me know if there’s any way that I can be of assistance or help you as well. I want to say thank you so much for being here. I do want to see if there needs to be more information out there, so get yourself prepared to do more things.

It’s very important for us to address human trafficking. To me, one of the things that bothers me so much, and I’ve seen it over and over again. There can be a man who talks about being a Christian, or they can be a deacon in a church, yet they buy sex, and they’re using somebody. That’s how severe the addiction is. A person, through their addictive process, lets go of any values or anything else they have because it’s an addictive cycle they’re in. I want to say thank you. It has been a very valuable experience.

Thank you so much.

Important Links

About Lara Coursey

Lara Coursey is the Founder and Director of the Freedom Collaborative, a faith based anti human trafficking nonprofit dedicated to prevention, awareness, and community engagement.

For more than eight years, she has worked alongside organizations, churches, law enforcement, and community leaders to educate the public on human trafficking and support outreach efforts throughout the Houston area.

Lara leads the organization’s annual free community awareness event, which brings together anti trafficking organizations and resources to educate and equip the public. She is also spearheading a World Cup awareness campaign focused on reducing demand and curbing sex buying.

In addition to her nonprofit work, she is a Functional Nutritionist and the founder of Naturally Yew. She also continues her two-decade career in the oil and gas industry.