SPECIAL REPORT: Massage parlor raids uncover a deeper crisis to human trafficking
Andrea Turisk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – On May 29, federal and local law enforcement executed a series of coordinated raids on five massage parlors in Yuma, resulting in three arrests including two on state prostitution charges and one on immigration violations.
Estrella Fitch, CEO of the Healing Journey, says this happens at massage parlors more often than one might think.
“A lot of these women are brought over very young with a promise of a good job or a promise of a better life, and they end up working and sleeping there at massage parlors…providing you know a service that we don’t really need in this town,” says Fitch.
Many of the women involved, she says, are not criminals, but victims of trafficking, with few options and nowhere to turn.
“They say, ‘Oh, they’re prostitutes,’ or ‘They chose that lifestyle.’ Well, how do you know that? What childhood did they go through to have them fall into this kind of lifestyle?” says Fitch.
Fitch says judgment only fuels the problem, and that healing starts with compassion.
“First of all, take that judgment out of your head. Stop judging. Remember that these are human beings that maybe wanted a better life and ended up in these parlors…or they are youth trying to identify themselves. Patience and understanding…that’s how we can overcome these problems,” says Fitch.
Therapist Brandy Rice who works with survivors says recovery is possible when the right support is in place.
“What that looks like for me is letting these survivors because I call them survivors know they can overcome. They can have their life back. They can take back the power that traffickers, and those who use them for their bodies, took from them,” Rice expressed.
Rice says healing isn’t linear and every survivor’s experience is different, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“Everybody’s story is different. Everybody’s journey is different and I know how easy it is to get stuck in the idea of, ‘I can’t heal…there’s no hope.’ But, there is,” says Rice
Fitch says oversight is needed especially if businesses operate suspiciously late.
“These massage parlors that are open 24 hours have no oversight. And I go back saying again, we need to be more aware of our surrounding and what’s happening. If a massage parlor is open that late at night and it says ‘Open,’ what’s going on there?” says Fitch.
For Melissa Lozolla, a licensed massage therapist the raids are frustrating not just because of the abuse, but the damage to their profession.
“I think it’s very unfortunate and sad. I think this is something that the industry has been fighting for inaction long, long time,” says Lozolla.
Lozolla says there are simple ways to check whether your therapist is properly credentialed.
“If you go to the massage board website, they do have a search button where you can input the name of the massage therapist and if they’re licensed, their name will appear, and whether their license is active or expired,” Lozolla explained.
Fitch says she’s glad to see law enforcement cracking down on illegal activity and hopes to see it continue moving forward.
She says by being aware and empathetic we can create real change.