A new New York Times investigation has revealed that underage girls, some as young as 11, are being sex trafficked along a 50-block stretch of Los Angeles, with law enforcement saying their ability to intervene has been severely restricted by a state law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
The report describes a disturbing rise in visible trafficking activity, with young girls allegedly being forced to solicit customers in broad daylight. Authorities say traffickers are increasingly targeting minors through online recruitment before exploiting them on the streets of L.A.
According to the New York Times, law enforcement’s response has been complicated by California Senate Bill 357, authored by State Senator Scott Wiener and signed into law in 2022 by Governor Newsom. The bill repealed previous laws that allowed police to stop individuals suspected of loitering for the purpose of prostitution.
“Five years ago, uniformed officers could have pulled up to a corner and apprehended a whole group of girls who were dressed in lingerie, hoping to recover minors among them,” the Times reported. “But a 2022 bill repealed that law.”
Critics argue that the repeal has effectively tied officers’ hands, making it harder to identify and rescue trafficking victims — especially minors. Supporters of the legislation, however, say it was designed to prevent discrimination and unjust arrests targeting adults engaged in consensual sex work.
The findings have renewed debate in California over how to balance civil rights protections with efforts to combat the growing crisis of child sex trafficking.
