Human Trafficking Awareness | Prevention | Education
Human trafficking can involve forced labor, commercial sexual exploitation, coercion, fraud, debt, threats, isolation or other forms of control. This NHFI resource center brings together clear explanations, warning signs, U.S. legal information, survivor resources, community reporting, charitable-giving guidance and practical ways people and businesses can help.
If you are in immediate danger, contact the emergency service in your country. In the United States, call 911 for an emergency.
U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 • Text 233733.
Outside the United States, use the Global Modern Slavery Directory to locate human-trafficking and modern-slavery services in your country.
Explore reporting on human trafficking, vulnerable youth, homelessness, housing access, charitable giving and community programs. Choose the story or resource most relevant to what you are researching.
Local reporting on trafficking cases, enforcement activity and the resources available to victims and vulnerable people.
Read Human Trafficking Arrests & ResourcesRead about efforts to recognize trafficked children as victims and expand trauma-informed protection and support.
Read About Trafficked Youth ProtectionCommunity outreach connects young people with shelter, food, health care, housing assistance and related resources.
Read About Homeless Youth ResourcesUnderstand how Southern Nevada’s Coordinated Entry system assesses needs and connects people with housing and support services.
Read the Coordinated Entry GuideExplore reporting on youth homelessness, instability and services available to young people in Southern Nevada.
Read About Clark County Homeless YouthRead additional reporting about NHFI’s anti-trafficking, vulnerable-person and community-support work.
Read Featured NHFI Community CoverageHuman trafficking is a crime of exploitation. U.S. federal guidance describes it as compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services or to engage in commercial sex acts. When a minor is exploited for commercial sex, federal law does not require proof of force, fraud or coercion.
Human trafficking is not defined simply by transportation or movement. A person can be trafficked without ever crossing a city, state or national border.
Traffickers may use deception, debt, threats, psychological coercion, document control, isolation, fear or other forms of control.
There is no single trafficking-victim profile. Vulnerability can increase when people face unstable housing, isolation, unsafe employment or lack of support.
Under U.S. federal law, sex trafficking involves commercial sex induced through force, fraud or coercion, or commercial sexual exploitation involving a person under age 18. For minors, force, fraud or coercion does not have to be proved.
Labor trafficking involves compelling someone to provide labor or services through prohibited means such as force, serious harm, threats, coercion, abuse of legal process or other forms of control.
Exploitative or unfair working conditions do not automatically establish human trafficking. Context matters, and no individual indicator is conclusive.
The FBI cautions that human-trafficking indicators are not a checklist or formula. No individual sign proves trafficking. Context, patterns of control and surrounding circumstances matter.
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, or TVPA, created a comprehensive modern U.S. framework for fighting trafficking based on three major pillars: protection, prevention and prosecution.
Federal law expanded protections and services for trafficking victims and created immigration protections for certain eligible noncitizen victims.
The TVPA strengthened U.S. prevention efforts and established structures for coordinated national and international anti-trafficking work.
Federal trafficking laws prohibit conduct including forced labor and sex trafficking and provide criminal penalties and victim remedies.
Laws vary by country and jurisdiction. This resource is educational and is not legal advice.
A crime of exploitation. Movement or transportation is not required. Trafficking can occur entirely within one community, state or country.
Generally concerns facilitating unlawful border crossing or transportation. Smuggling and trafficking can intersect, but they are not the same offense.
Online communication can be used to build trust, make false promises, recruit for fraudulent opportunities, isolate vulnerable people or facilitate exploitation. Digital literacy and knowing where to seek help are important parts of prevention.
Learn how online relationships, recruitment and manipulation can create risks for children, teens and adults.
Understand online exploitation risks and why trusted adults, schools and communities play an important prevention role.
Some international scam operations have involved trafficked workers compelled to participate in online fraud, including so-called pig-butchering schemes.
Human trafficking does not have a single cause, and homelessness does not mean someone is being trafficked. But instability, isolation, unsafe housing, unmet basic needs and lack of legitimate opportunity can increase vulnerability to exploitation.
Practical support can reduce immediate instability and help people remain connected to legitimate community resources.
Coordinated service systems can help people experiencing homelessness connect with housing assessments and support.
Runaway, homeless and system-involved youth may face increased vulnerability and benefit from specialized services.
Internet access can help people reach jobs, housing, education, transportation, legal information and community services.
Beginning with tax year 2026, eligible taxpayers who do not itemize may be able to deduct up to $1,000 in qualifying cash contributions, or up to $2,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly.
The IRS also says taxpayers who itemize face a new 0.5% of adjusted gross income floor before otherwise allowable charitable contributions begin to produce an itemized charitable deduction.
A tax deduction is not the same as a dollar-for-dollar tax credit or refund. Eligibility depends on the taxpayer, the organization, the type of contribution, documentation and other applicable tax rules.
Understand the non-itemizer deduction, new 0.5% AGI floor and other important 2026 charitable-giving rules.
Read the 2026 Charitable Tax Deduction GuideSee why the answer depends on whether you itemize, income, the type of contribution and the organization receiving the gift.
How Much Charitable Giving May Be Deductible?Learn what “100% deductible” can mean and why a deduction normally does not mean receiving 100% of the donation back as a refund.
Is a Charitable Donation a 100% Tax Write-Off?Tax information disclaimer: This information is educational and is not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and applicable law. Consult IRS guidance or a qualified tax professional.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline identified 241 Nevada trafficking cases in 2025 involving 349 potential victims. The Hotline received 299 signals from Nevada during the year. These figures represent situations reported to the Hotline and should not be interpreted as a total estimate of trafficking prevalence in Nevada.
The City of Las Vegas operates the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center, while Clark County’s Coordinated Entry system provides a centralized pathway for assessment and connection to housing resources.
NHFI’s local work combines education, prevention, outreach and practical community support intended to reduce vulnerability and help people connect with legitimate resources and opportunities.
Businesses can reach Las Vegas locals, visitors and U.S. audiences through Las Vegas News while helping support NHFI’s anti-trafficking and survivor-support initiatives.
Las Vegas News will contribute 25% of qualifying advertising revenue generated through NHFI’s referral partnership to support New Hope Foundation International’s anti-trafficking and survivor-support initiatives.
Human trafficking is a crime of exploitation involving compelled labor or services, commercial sex induced through force, fraud or coercion, or commercial sexual exploitation of a minor. Movement across a border is not required.
Under U.S. federal law, sex trafficking involves commercial sex induced through force, fraud or coercion, or commercial sexual exploitation involving a person under age 18. For minors, proof of force, fraud or coercion is not required.
Possible indicators include fear or scripted answers, another person controlling identification or earnings, restricted movement, excessive work demands, monitored communications, unsafe living conditions and threats. No single indicator proves trafficking.
No. Human trafficking is fundamentally a crime of exploitation and does not require movement. Human smuggling generally concerns unlawful border crossing or transportation.
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, or TVPA, established a comprehensive U.S. federal anti-trafficking framework centered on protection, prevention and prosecution. It has been amended and reauthorized over time.
In the United States, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. Outside the United States, the Global Modern Slavery Directory can help locate services by country. For immediate danger, contact local emergency services.
Eligible contributions may be deductible. Beginning in tax year 2026, qualifying non-itemizers may be able to deduct up to $1,000 in qualifying cash contributions, or $2,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly. Additional limitations apply.
A donation being deductible does not normally mean receiving the donation amount back as a tax refund. A deduction generally reduces taxable income; the actual tax effect depends on applicable rules and individual circumstances.
Businesses can support NHFI through sponsorship and other community-support opportunities. They can also use NHFI’s Las Vegas News advertising referral pathway, through which qualifying advertising revenue can generate support for NHFI initiatives.