A November airing of NewsNation entitled Saved in America: Searching For Missing Children featured founder Joseph Travers speaking on various topics related to child trafficking. The show began with a look at the difference between children who run away and those who have gone missing, which in terms of law enforcement and how they handle the case is virtually the same thing. This means, that whether a kid is missing because they voluntarily left or because they were enticed away by someone else, the case still deserves attention and action by adults to save these kids. 

The Scope is Massive

Travers explains on the show that there is an overwhelming number of missing children right here in America. The Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports some 300,000 missing American children annually. Of that number, reputable studies have shown that around 30% of those kids become victimized by the human trafficking industry. That means that at any given time, some 100,000 kids, American kids, are being held within the human trafficking industry. This is inside American borders, not overseas. 

Who is Being Targeted, And Why is Finding Them Such a Challenge?

The evil triad made up of prison gangs, street gangs, and drug cartels has taken over child sex trafficking. These evil predators use recruiters to infiltrate middle and high schools to access vulnerable children. Therefore, all kids are at risk for this, but especially those without the strong support of a healthy home life. Also, once a case has been opened, if the child is between 12 and 17 years of age, the police department is simply overwhelmed and unable to try to find these kids. They don’t have the manpower or the resources necessary to meet this ever-growing need. These cases are instead forwarded to the FBI and taken out of the hands of local law enforcement. 

Saved in America

Saved in America is making a difference in San Diego and all across the nation as they are stepping in and doing the work necessary to find these missing children and organizing their rescue from human trafficking on a local level. There is no charge to the families for this unbelievable service. The professionals who make up the volunteers of this organization give their time and expertise free of charge. Donations to SIA help keep its work going and more and more kids out of human trafficking.