Human trafficking, or modern form of slavery, is a topic that stirs strong emotions in many. Some will say that this is a pressing human rights issue, while others will say that it simply does not exist in the United States. Many people do not want to admit that slavery still exists in a country where it was thought to have been banned many years ago. However, this is something that absolutely happens here. There needs to be more education and more awareness on the subject. This is not a problem isolated to underdeveloped countries, but occurs in developed countries as well. This problem also leads to the oppression of many people living in poverty. Many citizens as well as immigrants are having their lives stolen right here in the backyard of the land of the free. Human trafficking is a social problem more related to underdeveloped countries, not the United States. However, most people are wrong because human trafficking is a daily problem in this country. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines human trafficking as “a modern form of slavery involving the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain” (“Defining Human,” 2013). A modern form of slavery means that innocent people in this country are having their lives and rights stolen so that others can enrich themselves at their expense. There are two forms of human trafficking: sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Sex trafficking is defined by the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 as when force, fraud, or coercion is used to induce a commercial sex act or if the person is persuaded to perform the act is...... middle of paper ... labor is almost backed up in some areas due to the lack of regulation of many businesses where over time employers know they will not be prosecuted and the Forced labor therefore allows them to create a lucrative business using free labor. (Bales, 2005). Human trafficking continues to be a problem not only in underdeveloped countries, but also in wealthy countries like the United States. In order to help reduce this problem, they need an increase in education on the subject. People need to be informed that this is actually a problem happening around them. For a country founded on the ideals of freedom, it is unacceptable that any form of slavery still exists today. No person within the borders of this country should live in forced servitude and sexual exploitation so that a few can prosper. The idea that slavery was abolished many years ago is a myth.