PRESS RELEASE

Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative Supports Landmark LA County Motion to Prevent Human Trafficking After Disasters

LOS ANGELES, CA — On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative, along with partners from Bet Tzedek Legal Services and Thai CDC, delivered public comment before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in strong support of a motion introduced by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell to Prevent Human Trafficking in the Wake of Natural Disasters. The motion passed with unanimous support from the Board.

The motion calls for greater awareness of the heightened risk of trafficking during post-disaster recovery, mandatory training for County staff to recognize the signs of trafficking, and a commitment to ensure that the County partners only with ethical companies that do not engage in exploitation.

During public comment, SJI emphasized the urgent need for policies that center vulnerable communities including workers, undocumented people, and those displaced by natural disasters who are most at risk in the aftermath. In addition, SJI uplifted the importance of culturally and linguistically inclusive outreach and survivor-informed solutions.

“Questions like the one raised during the Board’s process— ‘What’s the connection between human trafficking and natural disasters?’—show why public awareness, training to recognize the signs of trafficking, and contractor accountability are so important,” said Paloma Bustos, Policy Associate at the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative. “Disasters create a growing demand for cheap, unprotected labor, and without safety nets, too many workers are left vulnerable to exploitation.”

The meeting was also a meaningful opportunity for students from the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative to observe and participate in the policymaking process firsthand. Their presence was a powerful reminder that young advocates have a meaningful role to play in shaping a more just and equitable future.

SJI thanks all community partners who showed up in support and applauds the LA County Board of Supervisors for taking action to ensure prevention, accountability, and ethical recovery efforts are prioritized in future disaster response planning.

Board Motion: Preventing Trafficking in the Wake of Natural Disasters

Written Comment: Letter Submitted by SJI in Support of the Motion