Saved in America Key Message: 

• Runaway and missing children are highly at-risk of being trafficked as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that one in seven runaways are likely victims of sex trafficking. 

• Saved in America (www.savedinamerica.org) headquartered in San Diego, has helped rescue 232 girls nationwide from traffickers since 2014. Saved in America also helps to rescue children from rehabilitation facilities.  

• The organization works tirelessly to locate missing children through its volunteer network of former law enforcement officers, special operators, private investigators, and Navy SEALS who use their vast experience and expertise to combat human trafficking. 

• SIA gathers intelligence and evidence, through online and social media platforms, to locate and identify missing children and trafficked victims, violent pedophiles (pimps), and trafficking locations. The Law Enforcement Liaison reports all information to local and/or federal law enforcement officers.

• All volunteers have been certified as licensed, insured private investigators. Working with parents and law enforcement, Saved in America volunteers gather intelligence and evidence to locate and identify missing children and trafficked victims.  

• For victims of sexual exploitation, Saved in America assists in procuring legal representation, safe housing, and rehabilitative therapy.

• The Saved in America team model consists of three pillars; 1. We never charge parents/ guardians to find their children. 2. We do this voluntarily, refusing pay. 3. We only use former Special Operators and retired/ current Police Detectives who become Licensed and Insured Private Investigators.

• Mobile Unit – the mobile command center was donated by Kristin Gaspar and the County Supervisors to help SIA complete intelligence and locate missing/trafficked children and pimps.

• Rehabilitation House – the County has committed $2 million for a rehabilitation house for children to stay for an average of 14 days in which SIA can help to assess the child’s current condition, provide medical resources, complete research for the best rehabilitation center, and prosecute the perpetrator. 

Statistics: 

• An estimated 25 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking 
• Child sex trafficking has been reported in all 50 U.S. states 
• The second-largest child sex-trafficking corridor sector is San Diego County because the largest trafficking sector is San Diego County. Texas is number one
• Everyday there is an average of 300,000 missing children in our country. 30% of those missing are being trafficked (approximately 100,000 children)  
• An average of 3,000-8,000 children are being trafficked each year in San Diego County
• 60% of trafficked children are foster youth 
• The average age of a trafficked child is 15 years old
• A pimp will make an average of $100,000 a year per child
• Sex trafficking is the second largest underground (black market industry) in the country, following drug trafficking, generating an estimated $810 million a year 
• 75% of transactions for illegal sex are made online and occurs during business hours 
• There is one trafficker or recruiter on every middle school and high school campus in San Diego County
• Most children have endured homelessness, family instability, foster care, emotional distress or mental health issues 
• 60% of all runaways are approached by a trafficker within the first 48 hours from the time they were reported missing 
• The average cost to rescue a child in state is $6,250 per child 
• The average cost to rescue a child out of state is $12,000 per child
• The average time to recover a child is 5.5 days 
• 60% of all children were recovered before being trafficked