As an independent human rights policy institute, the Washington Centre of Human Rights (WCHR) is dedicated to accomplishing justice and safeguarding already disadvantaged communities, a highly chastened war against human trafficking that has been on the increase across North Texas and especially in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex area. With reference to recent cross-agency law enforcement operations and rescue missions, WCHR urges the world community to take immediate action at the national and international levels to break trafficking rings, eliminate their causes, and support the rights and dignity of victims.
According to the Dallas Police Department, trafficking cases have risen tremendously over the last two years, with an increase of 157 cases between 2021 and 2023, barring the example of the scale, organization, and digitalization of the exploitation operations. The late 2024 and early 2025 stings by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the North Texas Trafficking Task Force resulted in approximately 200 arrests and police informants described rooted systems of crime and demand-based commercial sex markets. Worrisomely, there are even arrested persons who got access to secure infrastructure, such as Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
“These are not isolated criminal cases, they represent systemic failures to protect children, prevent digital exploitation, and disrupt trafficking supply chains. The persistence of these crimes is a human rights emergency that demands a unified, strategic response.”
said Amira Khoury, Executive Director of WCHR.
One of the most significant ones was Operation Soteria Shield led by the FBI in April 2025. It was carried out in 30 days by involving more than 70 agencies, resulting in the rescue of 109 children and arrest of 244 individuals across the entire state. Among the victims was a 15-year-old autistic boy who was rescued in Dallas and a 13-year-old girl who was kidnapped and trafficked across state borders during a city event.
Such cases represent an even greater and more sophisticated problem: traffickers are becoming more likely to recruit and control victims via encrypted applications, through artificial intelligence art, and on social media. In reaction, local police have taken on a more partner- and trauma-informed response, working in close partnership with non-government organizations (NGOs) operating in the area, including Unbound Now, A21, Rescue Her, and Spartan Investigations to provide emergency shelter, long-term recovery and legal services to survivors.
WCHR also highlights the continued need for legislative reform and resources. Although the state of Texas has outlawed solicitation of sex as a felony offense, there is still an implementation loophole. Encouraging leaders and advocates in law enforcement emphasize the need to address the behavioral training in conjunction with legal literacy and digital forensics expertise to identify signs of a hidden traffic, particularly, within the digital realm.
Two major prevention tools have risen, community engagement and education. Whether it is providing local hotline numbers or running in-school education programs, the law enforcement in Dallas focuses on the fact that trust-building, particularly with youth and other vulnerable population groups, is the core idea to cut recruitment cycles and provide early intervention in addressing the issue.
In the future, the expansion of Dallas is anticipated to be reinforced by a graduating class of more than 41 new officers of the Dallas police department in May 2025, comprising the largest police academy students in years. Victim services are expanding in tandem, including programs that address homelessness, healthcare, and trauma recovery, such as the Street Dog Project.
“The trajectory of human trafficking in North Texas is no longer a question of crime—it is a test of political will, institutional courage, and public conscience, we must act decisively not just to arrest traffickers, but to restore hope, safety, and dignity to every survivor.”
said Khoury.
WCHR once again reiterates its promise to support the cause of fighting trafficking of all forms, holding every level accountable and to have survivors not stigmatized, rather supported. Once exploitation is changing to catch up with new platforms and strategies, so must the determination, and the duty, to resolve it.