The Paso del Norte Center of Hope says it is now handling dozens of human trafficking cases every month across the Borderland, with many of the people it serves still in their early teens. Staff members describe a mix of labor and sexual exploitation that frequently involves false promises of work, withheld documents, and punishing hours, a pattern they say demands both local and binational responses.
According to KVIA, the Paso del Norte Center of Hope has averaged 45 to 50 human trafficking cases a month this year and reported about 211 cases last year. The center told the station its clients have an average age of 14, and that many arrive after being lured by false job offers, having their documents taken away, or being forced to work excessive hours. Executive Director Nicole Schiff, who has led the nonprofit for nearly six years, said much of the group’s work involves educating the public about the difference between smuggling and trafficking.
How the center responds
The Center of Hope lists survivor-centered case management, emergency shelter, and referrals to legal services among its core offerings, while coordinating with law enforcement and other nonprofits, according to the Paso del Norte Center of Hope. The organization’s public materials describe multiple case managers and outreach staff focused on both youth and adult services, and note that the center serves as a hub for training schools, hospitals, and first responders. Leaders say referral networks are critical because many victims require legal help from outside counsel and other specialized services beyond what a single nonprofit can provide.
Online grooming and youth risk
Local advocates say a significant share of recent cases involves teenagers who were first targeted online. Analyses by Polaris and federal resources from the U.S. Department of Transportation report that online recruitment and remote exploitation rose after the COVID-19 pandemic, making youth more vulnerable to digital grooming. That broader national trend, providers say, helps explain why local caseloads contain such a high concentration of young victims.
Get help and resources
If you suspect someone is being trafficked, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 888 373 7888 or text BeFree (233733) for 24/7 support and reporting through the hotline’s site. Local survivors or people trying to connect a potential case can reach the Paso del Norte Center of Hope at 915 307 2175 for intake, shelter referrals and victim advocacy, according to the Paso del Norte Center of Hope. The center also maintains training materials and a community resource library aimed at schools, health clinics and law enforcement partners.
“People aren't aware that that's happening in our community,” Schiff said in an interview with KVIA, urging neighbors to learn the warning signs and report suspicious situations. Center leaders say prevention depends on public awareness, quick reporting, and a coordinated network of trained providers working across the borderland.
