Many, many prostitutes are not prostitutes by choice. They’re smuggled into the US with promises of spouses or office jobs, then forced into prostitution when they arrive under threat of being “turned in” or simply being abandoned in a country where nobody speaks their language and they have no paperwork or prospects.
They’re mostly afraid of deportation or imprisonment related to their illegal entry into the country or their prospects in a country where they have no citizenship, no employment options, have limited legal protections, and don’t speak the language.
Legalization wouldn’t really help with any of that. But what it would do is reduce the demand for illegal prostitution. It would help stop the trap before they’re in it.
Many, many prostitutes are not prostitutes by choice. They’re smuggled into the US with promises of spouses or office jobs, then forced into prostitution when they arrive under threat of being “turned in” or simply being abandoned in a country where nobody speaks their language and they have no paperwork or prospects.
Sounds like legalising it would help these victims by empowering them instead of making them hide in the shadows afraid of being caught.
They’re mostly afraid of deportation or imprisonment related to their illegal entry into the country or their prospects in a country where they have no citizenship, no employment options, have limited legal protections, and don’t speak the language.
Legalization wouldn’t really help with any of that. But what it would do is reduce the demand for illegal prostitution. It would help stop the trap before they’re in it.