Nationwide, Illinois ranks 10th in human trafficking reports, a troubling statistic given the state’s central location and significant transportation infrastructure, including major highways and airports, which traffickers exploit to move their victims.
Also, the 2023 Shared Hope International Report Card on Child and Youth Sex Trafficking gave Illinois failing grades in critical areas such as Identification of and Response to Victims and Continuum of Care. This highlights systemic failures in identifying, protecting, and supporting survivors of trafficking.
Trafficking disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including children, youth in foster care, and those experiencing homelessness. The Chicago metropolitan area has been identified as a hotspot for trafficking, with high rates of forced labor and sexual exploitation reported in the region.
These statistics show the urgency of taking action. The “Protect Victims of Human Trafficking Legislative Package” which was introduced earlier this year and spearheaded by Representatives Nicole La Ha, Jeff Keicher, Jennifer Sanalitro, and Brad Stephens, seeks to address these alarming gaps. This legislative effort aims to protect survivors, hold offenders accountable, and equip communities with the tools to combat trafficking effectively.
This legislative package contains the following bills:
Sponsored by Representative Nicole La Ha (82nd District)
- ·HB 5134: Seeks to amend the Sex Offender Registration Act to include offenses such as trafficking in persons, involuntary servitude, and involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, thereby enhancing monitoring and protection measures.
- HB 5466: Aims to remove the affirmative defense for individuals accused of patronizing a minor engaged in prostitution, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable and vulnerable minors are safeguarded.
- HB 5467: Removes the statute of limitations for prosecuting trafficking offenses involving minors, allowing justice to be pursued regardless of the time elapsed since the offense occurred.
- HB 5465: Permits minors in juvenile court to petition for the immediate sealing or expungement of their records if their involvement in a crime was a direct result of being trafficked.
- HB 5468: Establishes an affirmative defense for victims of human trafficking who commit offenses as a result of their victimization, requiring clear and convincing evidence of their circumstances.
- HB 5469: Creates the Human Trafficking Order of Protection Act, enabling victims to obtain protective orders against their traffickers.
- HB 5470: Adds the term "patronize" to the offense of involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, ensuring that buyers are held accountable as sex trafficking offenders.