It is Super Bowl Sunday…

What does that have to do with our work?

At Justice At Last, our mission is rooted in facts, survivor advocacy, and that our clients achieve justice on their terms.

Over the past few months, in anticipation of Super Bowl LX, conversations about human trafficking have resurfaced throughout the Greater Bay Area, and too often, they are driven by myths rather than evidence.

The Myth that Sex Trafficking “Spikes” at Major Sporting Events

There is no credible evidence that sex trafficking increases during major sporting events like the Super Bowl. Academic researchers, community-based service providers, and survivor-led organizations consistently reach the same conclusion. While some survivors report that their traffickers temporarily relocated them during major events, the trafficking existed before the event and continued afterward.

What increases during these events are highly visible law enforcement operations, which can create the false impression of a spike in trafficking. Arrest numbers alone do not measure trafficking prevalence, and conflating prostitution or loitering arrests with anti-trafficking efforts can obscure real harm to survivors.

During the 2016 Super Bowl, Justice At Last received referrals from law enforcement operations, yet most individuals were unreachable, and none ultimately received our free trauma-informed and survivor-centered support, highlighting the limitations of arrest-focused approaches.

Arrest numbers alone do not measure trafficking prevalence, and conflating prostitution, solicitation, pimping, and pandering arrests with the prevention of human trafficking can obscure the real risks survivors face.

What the Evidence Actually Shows

Labor trafficking risks do increase in predictable and preventable ways:

• Construction and infrastructure projects leading up to major events often rely on vulnerable labor forces, including migrant workers, who may face wage theft, coercion, or unsafe conditions.

• Hospitality industries, including hotels, cleaning services, food service, and event staffing, see increased demand that can lead to labor exploitation.

• Street vendors and temporary workers may be subject to debt bondage, document confiscation, or threats tied to immigration status, including ICE detentions and deportations.

These forms of trafficking are frequently underreported, under-identified, and under-resourced, yet they affect thousands of workers nationwide.

Why Arrest-Focused Responses Fall Short

Short-term enforcement operations are often framed as “anti-trafficking” efforts, but they rarely address the root causes of exploitation. In many cases, they:

• Criminalize survivors instead of supporting them

• Disproportionately harm marginalized communities

• Fail to provide long-term safety, housing, or legal stability

Survivors consistently tell us that what they need most is support, and NOT surveillance.

What Actually Prevents Trafficking

Effective prevention requires sustained investment in systems that reduce vulnerability before exploitation occurs, including:

• Safe and affordable housing

• Immigration and employment protections

• Worker rights enforcement and labor inspections

• Trauma-informed legal and mental health services

• Language access and community-based outreach

These investments don’t just respond to trafficking; they help prevent it.

This Super Bowl Sunday, Let’s Focus on What Works

Mega events offer an opportunity to shift the narrative away from fear and toward evidence-based solutions that center on dignity, safety, and long-term justice for survivors.  

Justice At Last will continue to represent trafficking survivors, advocate for systemic reform, and push for solutions that address exploitation at its roots so survivors can achieve justice on their terms.

Thank you for standing with survivors, and not just on Super Bowl Sunday, but every day.

In solidarity,

Rose Mukhar, Founder and CEO of Justice At Last

Check out our calendar here to learn about upcoming trainings and when we will be out & about in the community in 2026.

And, click here to register and attend our first 2026 Community Outreach virtual event, taking place Tuesday, March 3, 2026 from 5-6pm PT to learn about our plans & goals for the upcoming New Year.

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Justice At Last is a 501c3 nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible and monies raised will go to our programs to represent, advocate and support survivors of trafficking as well as help create awareness about the rights and forms of relief of trafficked survivors.

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