Human Trafficking rivals both drug trafficking and firearms as the most profitable organized crime. Trafficking reduces people to a commodity to be sold and sold again. Research reveals that over 2.5 million men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year. Approximately 80% are women and girls, 50% are minors.

About 200,000-500,000 women are trafficked from Latin America to the United States and Europe each year. Another 50,000 are said to come from Africa. Chicago is reported to be the third largest destination city in the US for trafficked persons.