This week San Antonio was host to the first statewide press conference on human trafficking.
The Tuesday event tied together law enforcement, legislators and survivors in order to present a realistic picture of what some call a form of modern-day slavery.
The issue is particularly troublesome in Texas, as experts say 25 percent of all trafficking victims come from this state alone.
"Statistics seem to point to the border: Number one, because they can come over so much easier, and there's so much that happens down on the border," said Yvonne Williams of the Trafficking in America Task Force. " However, we have to remember that human trafficking is not just brought into this country, that's a small percent."
One survivor told of her harrowing experience.
"At twelve years old, for a gambling debt that my trafficker could not pay, I was taken to an underground area where I was held in captivity for almost a year and a half," said Melissa Woodward.
Williams says that one way to end the problem is to punish those who purchase trafficking victims. She said that would help to dry up the demand.
