Executive Summary
- Texas DPS highlights January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
- Agents recovered 115 victims and arrested 690 suspects in the 2025 fiscal year.
- Traffickers frequently mask operations as legitimate businesses to avoid detection.
- Authorities urge the public to report red flags to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is observing Human Trafficking Prevention Month this January by releasing operational statistics that underscore the prevalence of exploitation across the state. Officials are urging residents to remain vigilant regarding specific indicators of trafficking, emphasizing that community awareness is a critical component of law enforcement efforts to dismantle criminal networks.
According to DPS data covering the fiscal period from September 1 through August 31, 2025, special agents recovered more than 115 victims of human trafficking. During the same timeframe, authorities arrested 690 suspects on charges related to trafficking offenses. The department defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion for labor exploitation or commercial sex acts, noting that any involvement of a minor in commercial sex constitutes trafficking regardless of force or coercion.
Law enforcement officials stated that trafficking operations are frequently concealed within seemingly legitimate businesses in visible areas. Traffickers often target high-risk populations, including juvenile runaways, individuals experiencing homelessness, active or historical drug users, and those with language barriers or a reluctance to engage with law enforcement.
To aid in detection, DPS released a list of behavioral indicators. These include individuals appearing to be under the physical or psychological control of another, lacking awareness of their surroundings, or living at their place of employment. Other signs involve visible untreated injuries, malnutrition, sleep deprivation, or clothing inappropriate for the environment. Officials noted that while a single indicator does not confirm a crime, a combination of these factors may warrant a law enforcement investigation.
Public Safety Impact
The emphasis on public education reflects a strategic shift in law enforcement that relies on community surveillance to identify crimes that inherently seek to remain invisible. By training citizens to recognize specific behavioral indicators rather than relying solely on police investigation, the agency aims to disrupt trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable populations in plain sight. It is important to note that all individuals arrested or charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
