Human trafficking remains a critical concern for Miami-Dade County in 2025, continuing its role as Florida’s epicenter for this crime. Between 2023 and 2024, the county received 199 official reports of human trafficking, tying with Broward County for the highest number in the state. Of those identified victims, approximately 40% were minors, while 60% were adults, most between the ages of 18 and 23. The vast majority of victims were female, 96% of minors and 92% of adults.

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The overwhelming majority of cases involved commercial sexual exploitation of children (91.95%), with labor trafficking accounting for 8.05% statewide. Florida continues to rank third in the nation for the volume of human trafficking cases, with 2,137 trafficking-related reports received in the most recent fiscal year.
In response, Miami-Dade County has increased its outreach and enforcement efforts, including 104 trafficking-related arrests and support services for more than 105 survivors in the past year.

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Against this backdrop, LSF Miami Bridge hosted a human trafficking symposium on Saturday, July 26, 2025, in partnership with the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office, Kristi House, and Quest2Freedom. The event brought together community leaders, advocates and experts to discuss prevention, awareness and strategies to protect vulnerable youth and families.

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“Events like this are essential to our mission,” said Dr. Toshiba L. Mitchell, program director at LSF Miami Bridge.

“We’re not just raising awareness about human trafficking. We’re equipping our youth, families and partners with the tools to recognize, prevent and respond to it. Together, we’re building a stronger, safer community.”

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The symposium featured keynote speaker, Victor Williams, founder of Quest2Freedom, an anti-human trafficking nonprofit organization that is dedicated to defeating the global issues surrounding human trafficking through a holistic approach. His message of hope and action resonated with attendees and reinforced the importance of collaboration in the fight against human trafficking.

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LSF Miami Bridge thanked all who participated and contributed to the event’s success. The organization continues to support at-risk youth through comprehensive youth and family services, including emergency shelter, counseling, life skills training and advocacy.

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The symposium served as a reminder of the power of community in protecting children and families and the importance of continued efforts to end human trafficking.

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Learn how to recognize the signs of human trafficking on our recent blog post and explore our mission to support Miami-Dade County youth and families at www.miamibridge.org.

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