The Texas Legislature passed House Bill 3579 in 2023, enabling the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to issue emergency orders halting the operation of any massage establishment where law enforcement or TDLR officials believe human trafficking is occurring.
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
When an emergency order is issued, TDLR officials visit the location with representatives of anti-trafficking organizations to assist any employees who want services.
