Texas has the second-highest number of reported human trafficking cases in the country, and San Antonio’s position on the I-35 corridor puts it squarely in the path traffickers use. If you or someone you know may be experiencing trafficking — forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation through force, fraud, or coercion — help is free, confidential, and available right now.
If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
The single most important number in this guide. Free, confidential, 24/7/365, with help in more than 200 languages. The hotline is run by a nongovernmental organization — not law enforcement, not immigration — and connects survivors with vetted local services.
- Call: 1-888-373-7888 (TTY: 711)
- Text: HELP or INFO to 233733 (BeFree)
- Chat: humantraffickinghotline.org/chat
You can contact them for yourself, to report a tip about someone else, or just to ask questions. Correspondence is confidential, and you can request help anonymously.
Warning signs someone may be trafficked
- Can’t leave a job or living situation; someone else controls their schedule, money, or ID documents
- Works excessively long hours with little or no pay; pay goes to someone else
- Shows signs of physical abuse, malnourishment, or exhaustion
- Is fearful, anxious, or submissive around a particular person; avoids eye contact
- A minor involved in commercial sex — any minor in commercial sex is a trafficking victim under federal law, no force or coercion required
- Tattoos or branding, multiple phones, or sudden unexplained “gifts”
One sign alone doesn’t prove trafficking — but a pattern is worth a call to the hotline. Trust the pattern.
For children: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
For online exploitation of children or missing children: call 1-800-843-5678 or report at missingkids.org.
Local help in San Antonio
- Alamo Area Rape Crisis Center — free counseling and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence, including trafficking survivors: (210) 349-7273 (24/7).
- FVPS / The Battered Women and Children’s Shelter — emergency shelter and services: (210) 733-8810 (24/7).
- Texas protective orders are available for trafficking victims and can last for life — the Bexar County Family Justice Center at (210) 631-0100 can help you apply for free.
- 2-1-1 Texas — dial 2-1-1 for referrals to local survivor services.
If you’re afraid to call because of immigration status
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is not a government or immigration authority. Immigration status does not disqualify anyone from help, and trafficking survivors may be eligible for special immigration protections. You do not have to give your name.
FAQ
What’s the difference between human trafficking and smuggling?
Smuggling is transportation across a border (a crime against the border). Trafficking is exploitation through force, fraud, or coercion (a crime against the person). A person can be trafficked without ever crossing a border — including U.S. citizens.
Do I need proof before calling the hotline?
No. The hotline’s advocates assess the situation with you. Suspicion based on warning signs is enough to call.
Is labor trafficking as common as sex trafficking?
Both are real and both are covered by the hotline. Labor trafficking — in domestic work, construction, restaurants, agriculture — is widely underreported.
Can I report a tip without getting involved?
Yes. Tips can be submitted anonymously by phone, text, chat, or the online form at humantraffickinghotline.org.
