HOUSTON – Advocates and community leaders gathered outside Houston City Hall on Monday morning, calling for increased funding and resources to combat sex trafficking ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to Houston, one of several U.S. host cities.
The group, which included nonprofit leaders, faith-based organizations, and survivors, noted that Houston must act now to strengthen prevention and law enforcement efforts before the city hosts the international sporting event.
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Organizer Ivan Sanchez said the goal of Monday’s event, which included a “Freedom Ride Caravan” circling downtown, was to raise awareness and urge city officials to prioritize anti-trafficking programs.
“International events like the World Cup bring an influx of visitors, and we need to make sure Houston is prepared,” he said in a written statement. “We cannot wait until the international spotlight is on us — we must act before that wave hits.“
Advocates at the event cited recent trafficking-related arrests in the city, like the Bissonet Track, which is a notorious hub for prostitution.
”Houston already carries the shameful title of sex trafficking capital of the United States,“ Sanchez added. “The world does not say Bissonnet is the problem; the world says Houston is the problem.”
Organizers admit the Houston Police Department and city officials have previously acknowledged human trafficking as an ongoing challenge, but said they’ve worked in recent years to strengthen enforcement and survivor services through local partnerships.
“This is not about politics. This is about people,” attorney Kim Bruno, a board member with Elijah Rising, a Houston-based nonprofit that supports trafficking survivors, added. “We want to show the world that Houston is serious about protecting its communities.”
Survivor Angela Williams, who was trafficked as a teenager out of a Houston high school, told the crowd during a press conference how her traffickers targeted major sporting events across the country, including the Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Games.
“They would plan a year in advance, booking hotels and scouting bars,” Williams said. “We’re behind the curve. These networks are already getting ready.”
According to data cited by organizers, an estimated 79,000 children and youth in Texas have been victims of sex trafficking at some point each year. The University of Texas Human Trafficking Institute has found that about a quarter of all victims identified statewide are in the Houston area.
Advocates from YMCA International Services and Elijah Rising said the city’s response remains underfunded and that survivors face long-term barriers even after being rescued.
Tiffany Velázquez, who leads the YMCA Trafficking Assistance Program, said her team provides 24-hour crisis response for both minors and adults.
“When victims are rescued, we meet them where they are,” Velázquez said. “But we need resources—clothing, food, and housing—to make recovery possible.”
The organization’s 24-hour hotline is 832-808-3909.
David Gamboa, who also works directly with survivors, said the need for emergency shelter is critical.
“If a victim finally says, ‘I need help,’ there’s often no bed available,” Gamboa said. “Imagine being trafficked for ten years and hearing no after no. That’s unacceptable.”
He added that the only way to prevent further exploitation is for Houston’s government and community groups to work together now.
“If there’s one 14-year-old being sold in this city, that should be enough to make people act,” he said.
Advocates concluded that they plan to hold a town hall with HPD, city leaders, and nonprofits in the coming weeks to develop a coordinated plan before next year’s World Cup kickoff.