Why I Chose to Testify Against My Trafficker

Escaping trafficking and escaping my trafficker were two very different things. When I exited trafficking, I was spared the daily torture my trafficker inflicted on me, but I was far from free of him. My trafficker stalked me for the next three years, reminding me constantly that he was watching me and could still get to me. At one point, he moved his kids to my children’s elementary school — even though he didn’t live within the boundaries — so he had a reason to be near me twice a day. He didn’t want anyone knowing what he had done to me.

I testified at two trials to get a criminal stalking injunction against my trafficker. The trials were difficult because I had to face him in court. He brought witnesses (including my abusive ex-husband) to testify against me. I’ve never seen so many people take the oath and then spew lie after lie. At one point, my trafficker told the judge I was pregnant with his baby and he saw me punching my stomach trying to kill the fetus. This was a complete and utter lie. I had my own witnesses, such as the school crossing guards, who had seen my trafficker trying to follow and terrorize me. It was very difficult to go through these experiences. However, at the end of the day, I won and the injunctions were granted.

Years later, while I was in therapy out of state, I learned through a victim’s advocate that my trafficker was facing deportation with the Department of Homeland Security. I knew I had to testify. My trafficker had assaulted and raped other women since I escaped, and I felt responsible because I hadn’t done anything to stop him. I know this line of thinking is flawed, but I felt guilty at the time. I couldn’t let my trafficker continue hurting women and children. He was a predator capable of extreme violence, and the judge needed to know. I was put in touch with the case prosecutor, and I spent hours on the phone with him sharing everything my trafficker did to me. The prosecutor was very empathetic and understanding. He asked me to be a witness on behalf of DHS, and I agreed to testify against my trafficker. Trust me, it was the last thing I wanted to do, but I knew I had to.

At the trial, I sat in a courtroom feet away from the man who had tortured and abused me for five months. At one point, I looked my trafficker in the eyes to prove I could stand up to him. The defense attorney wasn’t a kind man. He tried to steal my confidence and rattle me. But I straightened my back and held myself together despite being left alone in the room with several men and my trafficker’s family. His family mocked me openly in court and also threatened me. This experience was so hard. It was traumatizing to relive the excruciating details of everything my trafficker did to me and others. I’m so glad I did it though. My trafficker was deported to Peru, and now I can live without constantly looking over my shoulder.

Many survivors of trafficking never get the chance to testify, and my heart breaks for them. But I also understand that not everyone wants the opportunity. If a survivor hasn’t progressed in their healing or doesn’t have a support system, they might not want to go through with it. And then there are the threats. The threats traffickers make are very real and disturbing. I was afraid my trafficker would enact revenge for testifying. Thankfully, I have remained safe to this day.

To any victim or survivor considering testifying, I would say focus on your healing and path forward. Testifying is a personal decision and you have to make it based on what’s best for you. You are brave and courageous either way.