Kane county officials organized an event with Elgin Community College’s (ECC) speaker series conversations. Gregory Spayth, Christine Bayer, and Brian Polkington shared the everyday dangers of human trafficking. 

“Anyone can be exploited, that’s one thing victims share,” Polkington said, a speaker and Special Investigator from the Kane County Attorney’s office. “A victim can be anyone—race doesn’t matter, age doesn’t matter, background, income doesn’t matter,” he continued. 

“Human trafficking is imagined as something distant or rare, but it’s an everyday reality, explained Christine Bayer. 

“Truck stops, hotel rooms, rest areas, street corners, clubs, private residences, these are just some of the places victims may be forced into trafficking.”

“There are signs to look for,” Bayer said, “a trafficker will take possession of valuables—do you notice someone being told not to speak?”

Under 18 USC § 1584, involuntary servitude is a form of exploitation in which a person is forced to work against their will through coercion, threats, or manipulation. 

“Any person under the age of 18 involved in a commercial sex act is considered a victim of human trafficking, no exceptions,” Bayer said. 

Countries across the region generally have a good understanding of and response to sex trafficking, especially in identification of women who are victims, Bayer explained. 

According to the 2024 Human Trafficking Report, “governments also undertake and emphasize the importance of law enforcement and criminal justice.”

“The internet, that’s probably one of the biggest offenders out there,” she said. “You can be in another state, you can be anonymous—it’s still you out there.” 

The Blue Campaign, run by The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is an initiative that shares resources with communities and raises awareness of human trafficking. 

“People may not be aware of the signs within their midst,” Bayer said. “Every year, thousands of human trafficking cases are reported, but many more go unnoticed. Human trafficking is a hidden crime,” she continued. 

Human trafficking is an underreported crime; “language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement frequently keep victims from seeking help, making human trafficking hidden,” as stated by the Blue Campaign.

“You might’ve had a light-bulb moment in the past,” said Gregory Spayth; “One of the reasons labor trafficking is not exposed is because we don’t know much about it.” 

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free U.S. State Department service allowing travelers to register safety alerts and trips from the nearest embassy. 

In 2023, the FBI issued a public service announcement warning communities of false job advertisements that may link to labor trafficking at scam compounds.

“If you plan on relocating to a different country for a new job, inform family and friends of employment details, include contact information from the job advertisement,” they warned.

“A lot of the time, a trafficker will entice somebody with a well paying job, whether that’s a physician, a physical therapist, even. A housekeeper, it’s trickery,” Bayer warned. 

“Very often victims are forced to manufacture or grow the products that we use and consume every day. Victims of forced labor are found in factories or farms, doing construction work and more.” 

“We need a search warrant to enter these premises, it’s another layer of difficulty. Catching an illegal sex act, that’s easy. There are ways around it,” Spayth continued; “if someone is sleeping in a factory, that’s a red flag. It’s important for people to ask questions when they suspect something, it can go a long way.” 

Psychological impacts of human trafficking can be detrimental, Spayth explained. High rates of Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, or even phobias often follow as a result. 

“The Romeo Method,” Spayth said, “is what we like to call this extremely common action of starting off as the boyfriend or girlfriend that showers you with attention, gifts–they start off as a friend, then they slowly transition into a person that makes you feel trapped.” 

“Now all of a sudden I’m going to hit you. Now all of a sudden I’m going to withhold things from you,” he continued. 

“Believe it or not, there’s familial prostitution. A lot of the time, you’ll get a guardian or parent that has some mental health or drug problem, who decides that selling their family members is a good way for them to make ends meet.”