LA City Attorney on Crackdown on Human Trafficking

Federal and local law enforcement officials have announced a new operation to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation in the Figueroa Corridor, a three-mile stretch of land in South Los Angeles that has long been associated with widespread prostitution.

Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, one of the leaders in the crackdown, spoke with Inside the Issues host Amrit Singh about the multi-agency efforts to stop human trafficking.

Feldstein Soto says many of the young victims are in foster care and vulnerable to trafficking. Recalling a daylong drive last year with Mayor Bass and Councilwoman Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Feldstein Soto says she saw young girls as young as 11.

“It was a scene that consisted of young girls and women in various stages of undress with lines of cars, Johns, waiting to, essentially, make a transaction,” she said. “In the same community where there were churches and schools and children trying to walk to school and working families trying to get to work.”

The Figueroa Corridor Human Trafficking Initiative first met in April of last year.

Wednesday’s press conference marked the launch of the federal prosecution program, with U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada outlining several criminal cases for which charges would be filed.

While there is still much to be done, Feldstein Soto says the street looks very different this year than it did last year.

“Last year alone we rescued 71 sex workers, 60 of whom were minors. This year, through July, we have rescued 84 minors,” she said.

The city attorney explains that four of the motels that once served as crime magnets and hotbeds of prostitution have now been closed, and that in five cases additional conditions are in place to deter the illegal activity.

Click the arrow above to watch the full interview with Feldstein Soto.

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