APD unit tracks child sex slaves

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin police officers have rescued 10 child sex slaves in Central Texas since November 2010.

Police said a common misconception is that victims are immigrant children, but six of their last 10 rescues have been American children younger than 17.

"Many of them are traded for money or drugs," said Billy Sifuentes, a community liaison with the Austin Police Department Human Trafficking Unit. "Many, many more are not even seen because they're in brothels. It's a very big problem."

Last week, police rescued two underage girls in a South Austin hotel room. Investigators said the girls were being pimped online.

Sifuentes said there are signs that property managers, hotel managers and maintenance workers can look for when it comes to finding child victims.

"Nothing on the walls, the windows are completely covered just by a cloth or a board," said Sifuentes. "There are no personal belongings."

APD recently applied for a federal grant which would provide $500,000 toward building a shelter for rescued children, something they desperately need in Central Texas.

"Once we rescue these children, here in Austin, Texas, in Central Texas, there are no shelters that we can secure these children," said Sifuentes.

Laurie Cook Heffron volunteers with Allies of Central Texas , an advocacy group against human trafficking.

"It surprises people because it's happening right here in our backyard," she said.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, human trafficking is the second-largest criminal industry in the world, and 25 percent of all human trafficking victims are in Texas.