Human trafficking, or the modern form of slavery, is a topic that evokes strong emotions in many. Some will say this is an urgent human rights issue, while others will say it simply doesn't exist in the United States. Many people do not want to admit that slavery still exists in a country where it was thought to have been banned many years ago. However, this is something that absolutely happens here. More education and awareness on the topic is needed. This is not an isolated problem only in underdeveloped nations, but also happens in developed nations. This problem also leads to the oppression of many people living in poverty. Many citizens and immigrants have their lives stolen right here in the backyard of the land of the free. Human trafficking is a social problem more related to underdeveloped nations, not like that of the United States. Most people, however, are wrong because human trafficking is a problem that occurs every day in this country. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines human trafficking as “a modern form of slavery involving the illegal trade of people for the purpose of exploitation or commercial gain” (“Definition of human,” 2013). A modern form of slavery means that there are innocent people in this country who have their lives and rights stolen so that others can gain wealth at their expense. There are two forms of human trafficking: sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Sex trafficking is defined by the United States Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 as when force, fraud, or coercion is used to induce a commercial sexual act or if the person being persuaded to perform the act is… . of paper labor is almost supported in some areas through the lack of regulation of many businesses where over time employers know they will not be prosecuted and therefore forced labor allows them to build a profitable business through free labor (Bales, 2005 ). Human trafficking continues to be a problem not only in underdeveloped countries, but also in rich ones like the United States. To help reduce this problem, we need to increase education on the topic. People need to be informed that this is actually a problem happening all around them. For a country founded on the ideals of freedom it is unacceptable that any form of slavery still exists today. No person within the borders of this country should live in forced, sexually exploited servitude so that a few may prosper. The idea that slavery was abolished many years ago is a myth.