Paso del Norte Center of Hope raises awareness over human trafficking cases on the border

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Paso del Norte Center of Hope, which was opened to assist and protect victims of human trafficking, leads anti-trafficking efforts in the borderland and is partnering with law enforcement and local nonprofits in the region.

The center has seen an average of 45 to 50 human trafficking cases monthly this year so far, compared to about 211 they reported last year.

"People are unaware that trafficking exists in our community," said Nicole Schiff. “People often confuse Smuggling and Human Trafficking because of our proximity to the border but it’s important to note the majority of the cases we work involve U.S. Citizens being trafficked by U.S. Citizens,” said Executive Director Nicole Schiff.

Schiff has been the head of the center for nearly six years now and says the most important part of her job is to show the differences between smuggling and trafficking in El Paso.

These are some examples of human trafficking cases they have responded to:

• Child exploitation
• Online exploitation

"People aren't aware that that's happening in our community, so when I'm able to give them that information and help them become more aware, I think that's the best part of my job," said Schiff.

“Human trafficking is a crime committed against a person. This is important to note because it is involuntary, exploitation-based, and does not require a person to be moved across a border or state lines, although it can involve foreign nationals. Only a small percentage of the work we do involve victims coming into the country who are working excessive hours and they're not getting paid, or their documents are being held against them, or promised that they'll get help with the documents, and then they don't get anything," she added. 

Human trafficking could be involuntary, exploitation-based, no border crossing required, it can involve citizens or foreign nationals, lucrative, illicit and it also involves an organized crime network.

"There have been people for sure that have been smuggled into the country or come in and in the process were trafficked, so we have served individuals from Cuba, Venezuela, we've had both males and females and they end up being offered a job," Schiff said.

"Smuggling, in contrast, is a crime against the state which generally involves transportation, importation, exportation, or concealment of goods, money, or people across a border in violation of the law, often avoiding customs duties, taxes, immigration controls, or other government regulations,” she added. 

The Center of Hope also refers people to legal services, but it does not offer them.

The average age of the Center's clients is 14; therefore, they primarily serve young people.

Currently, they have three full-time case managers dedicated to young people, compared to just one for adults, and there has been a significant increase in online exploitation since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We primarily see cases involving adults engaging with youth online, or grooming youth to be in romantic or sexual relationships. Some examples of this have been cases of local news coverage of 14-year-olds with a 35-year-old professional in the education system like a coach or teacher. We’ve also seen cases where Fort Bliss soldiers are with 13 or 14-year-old girls," Schiff added.    

For more information on how the center can help you, you can click here.