U.S. Attorney Targets Human Trafficking Ring in Massachusetts

BOSTON — Human trafficking is not a distant horror—it’s happening here, now, on Massachusetts streets, in its hotels, and hidden in plain sight within immigrant communities and low-wage labor sectors. U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins is calling it what it is: modern-day slavery. And her office is moving hard to dismantle the networks profiting from it.

Since August 2022, Rollins’ newly formed Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit has charged nearly a dozen criminal cases tied to sex trafficking, labor exploitation, and human smuggling. These are not minor operations—victims have been pulled from forced labor situations and coercive sex trade rings, some manipulated through violence, others through psychological control. The unit has already assisted 15 victims across eight states who were trafficked through Massachusetts.

The crackdown isn’t limited to arrests. Rollins’ office launched a statewide indicator training series in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations—educating city inspectors, hospitality workers, and transportation employees on how to spot the signs of trafficking. Over 100 public employees in Boston have already been trained. More sessions are scheduled, aiming to turn everyday workers into frontline eyes for law enforcement.

“Traffickers use threats, lies, grooming techniques, or violence to exploit vulnerabilities,” Rollins said. “This crime often goes unseen. That’s why we’re taking this directly to the public.” Her office is betting that vigilance in hotels, truck stops, and farm labor camps can break the silence that lets traffickers operate in shadows.

Partnerships are central to the strategy. The U.S. Attorney’s Office now holds regular meetings with the Commonwealth Anti-Trafficking Task Force, the Governor’s Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence’s Human Trafficking Subcommittee, and regional task forces in Western Massachusetts and Plymouth County. Survivor-led organizations are being consulted to ensure policy is shaped by lived experience—not just prosecution stats.

If you or someone you know may be impacted by human trafficking, visit polarisproject.org for confidential help and resources. The National Human Trafficking Hotline operates 24/7. In Massachusetts, the crime isn’t invisible anymore—it’s under investigation.