Human Trafficking Thriving In Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Slavery is on the rise in the nation, and Florida, Texas and California are leading the way, a study at Florida State University revealed Wednesday.

"There is modern-day slavery taking place right here in Florida," said Terry Coonan of the university's Center for the Advancement of Human Rights. "Human trafficking has really become a multi-billion-dollar industry."

The study shows immigrants from Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America are forced into the sex industry, domestic servitude or migrant farm work.

International trafficking victims have been identified in more than 20 states. The federal government has estimated between 20,000 and 50,000 people -- mostly women and children -- are brought into the United States by traffickers each year.