Human trafficking encompasses two main forms: sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Sex trafficking is legally defined as engaging in a commercial sex act through either of the following means: 

1. Involving  a minor, or

2. with force, fraud, or coercion with an adult.

Traffickers, commonly referred to as "pimps," exploit and manipulate their victims by capitalizing on various vulnerabilities, such as histories of abuse, poverty, foster care backgrounds, or a desire for acceptance. They employ deceptive tactics such as posing as romantic partners, offering false career opportunities, issuing threats of violence, or using blackmail.

As a consequence of these tactics, many victims are ensnared in trafficking while still in their teenage years. This exploitation has led to an alarming estimate of 80,000 youth victims of sex trafficking in Texas alone.