Estimating Labor Trafficking among Unauthorized Migrant Workers in San Diego

• Author: Yang Qin,Brian Karl Finch,Michael W. Spiller,Sheldon X. Zhang
• DOI: 10.1177/0002716213519237
• Published date: 01 May 2014
• Date: 01 May 2014

ANNALS, AAPSS, 653, May 2014 65

DOI: 10.1177/0002716213519237

Estimating

Labor

Trafficking

among

Unauthorized

Migrant

Workers in San

Diego

By

SHELDON X. ZHANG,

MICHAEL W. SPILLER,

BRIAN KARL FINCH,

and

YANG QIN

519237ANN The Annals of the American AcademyEstimating Labor Trafficking in San Diego

research-article2014

Research on labor trafficking faces many methodologi-

cal challenges, which make it difficult to provide relia-

ble estimates of the problem. In this research, we

applied respondent-driven sampling and unique access

to migrant communities in San Diego County,

California, to estimate the extent of trafficking viola-

tions in one of America’s largest Spanish-speaking

immigrant destinations. We found that 30 percent of

undocumented migrant laborers were victims of labor

trafficking, 55 percent were victims of other labor

abuses, and about half of these victimization experi-

ences occurred within the past 12 months. The rate of

trafficking violations varied markedly across business

sectors that typically hire unauthorized migrant work-

ers. Construction and janitorial services had the most

reported trafficking violations and labor abuses.

Findings in this study also suggest that the illegal status

in the country is likely the most significant factor con-

tributing to vulnerability to trafficking violations.

Keywords: labor trafficking; human rights; respond-

ent-driven sampling; U.S.-Mexican border

The scarcity of reliable estimates of labor

trafficking at any geographical level or

within any industry has long caught the atten-

tion of major international organizations

(International Labour Organization [ILO] 2005,

2006; International Organization for Migration

[IOM] 2000; United Nations Office on Drugs

and Crime [UNODC] 2009). In its annual

assessment of antitrafficking efforts, the U.S.

Department of Justice ([USDOJ] 2007, 2) called

for enhanced efforts “to monitor and combat

labor trafficking both domestically and interna-

tionally, especially in light of a new mandate

Sheldon X. Zhang is a professor of sociology at San

Diego State University. He is author or coauthor of five

books and edited volumes.

Michael W. Spiller is affiliated with the Department of

Sociology at Cornell University. His research interests

include sampling methodology, statistics, health, and

social inequality.

66 THE ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY

concerning forced labor and child labor.” Without the support of reliable esti-

mates, current antitrafficking campaigns face a credibility problem. However,

empirical research on labor trafficking is no easy undertaking. It is expensive and

faces major methodological obstacles. By taking advantage of recent advances in

sampling methodology and through unique access to a “hidden population” in San

Diego County, this study attempts to answer some of the basic questions confront-

ing the current antitrafficking movement. The study has two main objectives:

(1) to provide statistically sound estimates of the prevalence of trafficking victimi-

zation among unauthorized migrant laborers in San Diego and (2) to investigate

the types of victimization that these laborers experience.

Challenges in Trafficking Research

The need for and challenges in producing estimates on the scale of human traf-

ficking have been widely discussed (De Cock 2007; Gozdziak and Collett 2005;

Laczko and Gramegna 2003; Tyldum and Brunovskis 2005). Among the many

conceptual and methodological challenges, definitional problems and repre-

sentative sampling stand out.

First, there is much ambiguity and uncertainty as to what constitutes labor

trafficking, or human trafficking in general. Farrell, McDevitt, and Fahy (2008)

found that most law enforcement agencies do not even recognize the existence

of labor trafficking. Definitional ambiguity impedes efforts in operationalizing

measures that are needed in data collection. There has been a lack of concerted

effort in translating established legal frameworks into workable measures or sur-

vey instruments to assist empirical research. Thus far, there are no standardized

or even widely accepted survey instruments inside the United States that can be

used to gather data for research on trafficking.

Second, social scientists typically rely on two sources of data to assess a par-

ticular problem: (1) individual cases reported by government agencies or social

service organizations and (2) survey research from which statistical estimates may

be derived. Most existing literature on human trafficking reflects the first type of

data (ILO 2011). Although much can be learned through case studies about the

nature and process of trafficking activities, reliable estimates on the scope of the

problem are needed to guide policymaking and resource allocation.

Brian Karl Finch is a professor of sociology and director of the Population Research Center at

the University of Southern California.

Yang Qin is a doctoral student in computational statistics at San Diego State University. Her

research interests include predictive modeling, survival analysis, data mining, and time series

analysis.

NOTE: This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Justice, U.S.

Department of Justice (Grant No. 2009-IJ-CX-0011). Points of views expressed here are

solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position or policy of the U.S.

government.