Local groups tackle human trafficking in the Desert Southwest

January marks human trafficking prevention month and resource centers in Yuma are trying to spread awareness - 13 On Your Side's Vanessa Gongora reports

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Human trafficking is happening all around us, even in Yuma and we don't even realize it.

Human trafficking in Arizona starts as early as 13 years old, according to the McCain Institute Arizona Combatting Human Trafficking team that advocates for long-lasting solutions to ending human trafficking.

The McCain Institute also outreaches to vulnerable populations and provides training and technical assistance nationally, but especially in Arizona.

Joanna Jauregui, McCain Institute Senior Program Coordinator, says the proximity to the U.S. - Mexico border is unique in Yuma, though smuggling and trafficking are two different crimes.

"Smuggling is a crime against a border whereas trafficking is a crime against a person," explains Jauregui.

And she says there are organizations doing their part, such as The Healing Journey, Amberly's place and law enforcement agencies.

"To ensure that this doesn't happen in Yuma, Arizona but also ensuring that when it does, when those victims do come forward, they have all of the services and knowledge needed to support those survivors and victims," continues Jauregui.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline says it received about 650 calls from Arizona in 2021 and 240 of those calls were from victims or survivors.

It also received over 5,000 calls from California and about 2,000 of those calls were from victims or survivors of human trafficking.

The Hotline receives tips about situations involving sex trafficking, labor trafficking, sex & labor trafficking, as well as situations where the type of trafficking may be unknown or not specified. 

Over 200 cases from Arizona and over 1,300 from California were identified in 2021.

337 victims were involved in these Arizona cases and over 2,000 victims involved in California. Cases can involve multiple victims.

Estrella Fitch, CEO and founder of The Healing Journey, a non-profit organization in Yuma that assists victims of trafficking, says there are signs to be aware of.

"A sign is all of a sudden they have funds they never had before. A cell phone they never had before," describes Fitch. "They're changing their clothes. They're sneaking out at night. Coming back in the morning. They're tired, they're sleeping during school and a lot of it, to get through this process, start using drugs."

Fitch says she works quietly with underage victims of sex trafficking through specialized counseling, helping them get back to school and assisting them to find a path out of that lifestyle.

Amberly's place is the only family advocacy center in Yuma County, Arizona with a crisis team to assist victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse and human trafficking.

The team provides special training to help reduce the trauma to the victim.

One popular restaurant, In-N-Out (INO) Burger has a foundation called Slave 2 Nothing to fight substance abuse and human trafficking.

Dave Maggard, INO's Slave 2 Nothing Executive Director says the foundation was created about six years ago by the President and Owner Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson and her husband Sean Ellingson because they really have a heart for these two causes.

"She does not want people to be enslaved by either a substance or a person and it just seems that these two causes and helping non-profit organizations fight them in the seven states we have restaurants, was just something that was really really important to her," says Maggard.

In January, INO has their in-restaurant campaign for others to help their community as well.

"And so our customers have an opportunity to contribute in cans where they can put currency and change, they can do it at point of sale. They can do it actually as they drive through," explains Maggard. "They can scan a barcode as they drive through and make a donation at that time and location."

100% of money raised goes directly to about 130 non-profit organizations that help victims and survivors of human trafficking and substance abuse.

According to Maggard, INO Burger raised over $2.5 million dollars in just the last year.

INO Burger matches the donations 3-1 up to $300,000 in the month of January. You can still donate online throughout the year if you can't make it into the restaurant.

Maggard says they are always looking for more organizations to help.

"Great organizations that are fighting substance abuse and/or human trafficking in the greater Yuma area," says Maggard. "We'd love to meet them and get to know them and find if there's ways for us to come alongside them and to help support them doing that very difficult work."

Applications are by invitation only. If you feel your organization aligns with INO Burger's mission and purpose, please reach out to S2NGrants@innout.com.

Evaluations include online application reviews, site visits and financial analysis.

"We vet those very carefully and then at the end of that process, we'll submit a list to our board of directors and if they approve that list, then we'll be able to send out those funding checks right around the first of April every year," continues Maggard.

If you notice any suspicious activity, please contact local law enforcement or call the Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. You can also text 233733. Advocates are available 24/7 to take reports of potential human trafficking.