Understanding the Trafficking of Children for the Purposes of Labor in the United States

This study of child labor trafficking in the United States seeks to fill a gap in information about who is exploited for labor, the contexts under which these abuses occur, and how to best meet the needs of these young survivors – both U.S. citizen and foreign-national. The researchers utilize data from cases of child labor trafficking either prosecuted by U.S. officials or served by legal advocacy agencies in four U.S. sites. Across these cases information was coded for 132 child labor trafficking victims and 145 child labor trafficking perpetrators. Case data was supplemented with in-depth interviews with legal advocates, victim service providers, child welfare, law enforcement and other government officials, as well as adult child labor trafficking survivors, this study fills important gaps in knowledge.