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| From left: Rep. Dennis Tipsword, Rep. Nicole La Ha, Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro. |
According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, Illinois has reported over 10,000 trafficking signals since 2007, leading to thousands of identified victims. In 2024 alone, the hotline received 792 signals from Illinois, resulting in 385 identified cases and 627 victims. Of those victims, 83 were minors and 289 were adults, with the majority being women.
Sex trafficking remains the most common form, often occurring in hotels, illicit massage businesses, and online platforms. Labor trafficking is also prevalent, particularly in industries such as construction, hospitality, and domestic work. Illinois’ central location, with major highways, airports, and railroads, makes it a hub for traffickers moving victims across state lines.
For years, Illinois faced criticism for inadequate support for trafficking survivors. In 2024, Shared Hope International gave Illinois an “F” grade for its response to child sex trafficking, citing gaps in victim services and over-reliance on criminalizing survivors.
But in 2025, Illinois made significant progress. The Illinois Statewide Trauma-Informed Response to Human Trafficking Act (SB 2323) was signed into law, mandating trauma-informed training for law enforcement, expanded screening for youth in state care, and coordinated services across agencies. As a result, Illinois’ grade improved from “F” to “A”, a dramatic turnaround that reflects the state’s commitment to survivors.
A key driver of this progress has been State Representative Nicole La Ha (R-Lemont), who has championed legislation to strengthen protections for survivors and hold traffickers accountable.
“Earlier this session, I presented three bills I wholeheartedly believed in, measures designed to strengthen protections for survivors of human trafficking”, Rep. La Ha said. “I proposed these bills in an effort to close loopholes traffickers have used to escape accountability, strengthen definitions, expand protections for minors, and increase penalties for those who knowingly facilitate trafficking. Survivors deserve a justice system that refuses to look the other way. I’m grateful to every advocate and survivor whose voices helped define these bills, and I’ll continue fighting to ensure Illinois remains committed to ending human trafficking and supporting those on the path to healing.”
Her legislative package addressed critical gaps:
- Extending the statute of limitations for trafficking-related crimes.
- Strengthening legal definitions and eliminating defenses like “mistake of age.”
- Requiring traffickers convicted of crimes such as sexual servitude of a minor to register as sex offenders.
Illinois’ reforms align with national strategies to combat trafficking. The U.S. Department of State’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report estimates that 27 million people worldwide are exploited for labor and sex. Technology has amplified trafficking, with perpetrators using online ads, dating apps, and encrypted messaging to recruit and exploit victims.
Human trafficking is happening in Illinois every day. The statistics are sobering, but the voices of survivors and advocates remind us that behind every number is a human life. Illinois has made progress but remains committed to further growth until Human Trafficking is a thing of the past.
Ending human trafficking requires collaboration between lawmakers, law enforcement, survivors, and communities. Illinois must continue to invest in prevention, expand survivor services, and hold traffickers accountable. Only then can we hope to eradicate this modern-day slavery from our state.