The first closure under HB 3579 took place in Cy-Fair this summer, followed by at least four other area establishments. As of Oct. 16, the TDLR had issued 13 emergency closure orders statewide, Communications Manager Tela Mange said.
Although trafficking victims may interact regularly with the public, language barriers, emotional manipulation and intensive monitoring can make it difficult for them to reach out for help, TDLR officials said.
“We know what trauma does to the brain and how scary and dangerous it is for them. They will have to relearn how to think about themselves ... because they’ve been shut down during that life," said Michelle Temofonte, clinical director at Shield Bearer Counseling Centers.
Put in perspective
Because illicit massage businesses are a common venue for human trafficking, TDLR officials perform unscheduled inspections at least once every two to four years.
In late May, Hsin Wei Chen was ordered to temporarily close Foot Reflexology Star—the first business affected by HB 3579. He later had eight massage business licenses revoked; three were in Cy-Fair, according to a June 24 news release.
“For too long, human traffickers have been able to hide what they’ve been doing in massage establishments. But now, with this law in place, we will work with our local law enforcement partners to take the fight to these traffickers,” Brian E. Francis, the TDLR’s interim executive director at the time, said in the release.
After Chen failed to comply with the emergency order, the TDLR obtained a permanent injunction, per a Sept. 19 news release. He can no longer own, operate, manage or work in massage establishments in Texas.
In July, Changjiang Zhong, owner of Gen Spa in Cy-Fair, agreed to a permanent license revocation for two businesses licensed there. In September, Yu Sheng Chen agreed to close 10 establishments, including D & B Foot Massage in Cy-Fair.
Per the TDLR, potential signs of trafficking in these cases included:
- An ATM in the lobby
- Advertisements showing 24-hour operations
- Lingerie and high heels in the laundry area
- Unlicensed employees providing massages
- Evidence that employees were living there
“We’ve seen many municipalities use [HB 3579] to help fight to clean up their communities. ... I am currently working with TDLR to expand this bill next session to go after hotels and motels," said state Rep. Ben Bumgarner, R-Flower Mound, who authored HB 3579.
By the numbers
Several Houston-area nonprofits have programs dedicated to supporting human trafficking survivors. Michelle Temofonte, clinical director at Shield Bearer Counseling Centers based in Cy-Fair, said the organization had 12,097 individuals seek counseling services due to human trafficking trauma in 2023.
While experts said psychological healing is an imperative part of human trafficking survivors’ recovery process, other resources organizations provide include safe housing, education, economic empowerment courses, a supportive community and transportation.
The Houston Area Women’s Center has served more than 86 human trafficking survivors in 2024 as of Sept. 12, officials said. Redeemed Ministries, based in the north Houston area, has helped more than 150 women escape human trafficking since 2005, Executive Director Bobby Mark said.
“It is one of the easiest crimes for criminals to commit,” Mark said. “It’s easier to sell a human being than it is to sell a bag of drugs because the human being will lie to the police and say, ‘I’m fine; there is nothing wrong,’ much like a domestic violence victim because [they] are attached in some way or are being threatened in some way.”
Mark said human trafficking perpetrators target vulnerable individuals such as children who have endured abusive households, are in foster care or live in poverty.
“We’ve actually had residents whose parents were their traffickers when they were as young as 4 years old, trading them to pay the rent on the apartment,” Mark said.
Leticia Manzano, manager of sexual violence services at the Houston Area Women’s Center, said human trafficking often occurs in establishments that act as fronts for typical businesses such as massage spas, bars and modeling agencies.
“I often think of an immigrant client that I serve who someone told her, ‘This place is hiring,’ and so she started off just cleaning this spa, and then eventually she was forced to give a client a massage,” Manzano said.
Jorge Alaniz, a sergeant with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, said their biggest human trafficking cases often involve young girls in foster care who are manipulated into prostitution.
“Human trafficking is not a victimless crime,” Alaniz said. “People think that because it’s two adults consenting to sex that no one’s really being hurt, and that’s a big misconception because they don’t understand that people are being forced through threats and coercion.”
Alaniz also said human trafficking is typically seen in businesses such as massage parlors, nail salons, cantinas and among people who are forced to sell flowers on the side of the road.
Keep in mind
According to the TDLR, signs of human trafficking among employees working at businesses include:
- Visible injuries such as bruises, redness or swelling
- Gang signs, tattoos, new high-end clothing
- Sexually provocative clothing inappropriate for weather or situation
- Employees are not allowed or are unable to speak for themselves or make their own decisions
- Employees are fearful of authorities
- Third-party control of identity documents
- Claim of boyfriend or girlfriend relationship with an older individual
Anyone seeking help to recover or find a sanctuary from human trafficking can reach out to:
- Shield Bearer Counseling Centers: 281-894-7222
- Houston Area Women’s Center: 713-528-6798
- Redeemed Ministries: 832-447-4130
- National Human Trafficking Hotline: call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733
