Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative

How stories are told matters. This new article from Columbia Journalism Review explores the ethical responsibilities journalists and media outlets have when reporting on trafficking. The article was published in response to concerns raised by advocates, survivor leaders, and organizations following a recent New York Times article about Figueroa Street in Los Angeles that many felt relied on harmful “rescue” narratives and risked further harm to vulnerable young people.

The article also includes perspectives from our SJI Director Stephanie Richard, who shared: “The piece raises urgent questions about trafficking in Los Angeles. But it also reinforces carceral myths that many survivors and advocates have spent years working to dismantle.”

Figueroa Street and the ethical duty of care. Looking back at a New York Times magazine story to examine what responsible coverage of s*x trafficking looks like—and what it doesn’t.

Support AB 1245 (Stefani) to help strengthen worker protections and prevent public dollars from supporting forced labor, labor trafficking, and exploitation in supply chains connected to public contracts.

As California prepares for the Olympics, World Cup, and other major projects, AB 1245 would strengthen accountability around how taxpayer dollars are spent on goods and services.

AB 1245 will be heard in the Senate Governmental Organization Committee on June 9, 2026.

Support letters are due by end of day on June 1.

Learn more and access the support letter template and instructions:

www.lls.edu/sunitajain/ab-1245

Today, we had the opportunity to present before the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Civilian Oversight Commission to bring attention to the unintentional harm systems can cause to youth who are labeled as “offenders” or “delinquents,” but who may actually be experiencing trafficking.

We presented about labor trafficking by forced criminality, where youth are forced, manipulated, or coerced into committing crimes for the benefit of others. Too often, these young people are criminalized instead of identified as victims of exploitation.

Addressing this issue requires systems to look beyond the offense itself and better recognize the role of coercion, control, and trauma. Prevention, early identification, trauma-informed responses, and stronger collaboration across systems are critical to protecting vulnerable youth.

Thank you to the Commission for inviting us to present and for creating space for this important conversation.

LA28 released a Human Rights Strategy for the 2028 Olympics, but did not attend the City’s Ad Hoc Committee hearing to discuss it publicly.

During public comment, concerns were raised that the strategy lacked dedicated funding, accountability, and concrete steps to prevent trafficking, protect workers, and support survivors.

As our Policy Associate Paloma Bustos stated, “Without dedicated investments, the burden will once again fall on City systems and community-based organizations that are already struggling to meet current needs.”

Organizations including CAST, Thai CDC, Saving Innocence, CARECEN, and the LA Worker Center Network emphasized the need for prevention planning, worker protections, coordinated response protocols, and stronger community-based investments ahead of the World Cup and Olympics.

SAVE THE DATES! National Days of Action on Federal Funding Delays. May 14-18, 2026.

Over the past year, domestic violence shelters, r**e crisis centers, and other programs serving survivors have experienced federal funding delays. Further delays could force programs to lay off staff, reduce services, or close their doors, leaving survivors with nowhere to turn.

Survivors deserve better. Congress must act NOW.

Contact your Senators and Representatives and urge them to take action on federal funding delays.

Call 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senator or Representative’s office.

You can also send a pre-drafted email directly to Congress. It only takes seconds to complete. Click the link: https://nnedv.quorum.us/campaign/162461/

We are a month away from the first soccer matches for the World Cup taking place in the United States. It’s important to remember that human trafficking does not begin or end on game day.

The FIFA World Cup will host matches beginning June 12 in Los Angeles. Prevention must happen before, during, and after the tournament. Public awareness, worker protections, survivor informed responses, and community based support systems are critical to reducing harm and strengthening community safety ahead of the World Cup.

Human rights protections must include real investment in preventing human trafficking ahead of the 2028 Olympics. LA28’s human rights plan includes no dedicated funding for anti-trafficking efforts, despite growing concerns from advocates, survivors, and community organizations.

“The plan repackages existing systems which are not properly equipped or resourced to meet the scale of the Olympics and relies mainly on law enforcement efforts,” said Lesly Ayala of Loyola Law School’s Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative. “The plan highlights federal and state programs as well as services provided by nonprofits, but does not offer to invest in any of these programs or services.”

Read more in the LA Times feature:
https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2026-05-05/essential-california-2028-olympics-human-rights

Will L.A.'s 2028 Olympic Games protect human rights? Your morning catch-up: LA28 Olympics has a human rights plan, L.A. mayor's race heats up and more big stories

Today is May Day. Across the country, many are organizing around no work and no spending to highlight the power of immigrant workers.

At the same time, Los Angeles is preparing for global events like the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. These events will rely on thousands of workers across construction, hospitality, and service industries.

But there is a tension we cannot ignore.

Too often, investment in “protecting people” is centered on enforcement rather than worker protections, safe reporting, and access to support.

For immigrant communities, increased enforcement can mean increased fear.
Fear of retaliation.
Fear of detention.
Fear of coming forward.

When people cannot safely report harm, labor trafficking and exploitation becomes easier to hide.

Prevention is not just about enforcement. It requires
• building trust and safe pathways to report abuse
• strengthening labor rights and accountability
• ensuring protection does not come at the cost of criminalization

If we are preparing to welcome the world, we should also be preparing to protect the people who make these events possible.

Awareness

On April 7, LA28 released a draft Human Rights Plan, but it does not include funding, timelines, or clear steps for preventing harm, including human trafficking.

Advocates raised these concerns at City Council, and Councilmember Adrin Nazarian has since introduced a motion to ensure human rights protections are included and funded in LA28 negotiations.

There is still time to get this right.

We are also still waiting on FIFA’s Human Rights Report.

Last week, LA City Council took an important step by introducing a motion to include human rights protections, including trafficking prevention, in LA28 negotiations. Advocates welcome this progress while urging the City and LA28 to ensure real funding and protections are in place before the Olympic Games.

Read Full Statement:
www.lls.edu/sunitajain/preventing-trafficking-sporting-events