Coming to the US to study or work? Here's how to avoid being trafficked.

Here are 2 facts:

1.  Human trafficking happens in the US.

2.  Many victims are foreigners who arrive in the US legally--and walk right into the arms of traffickers.

The US State Department just put out a new pamphlet that's designed to prevent this from happening.

It lists the rights, protections, and resources available to everyone applying for certain non-immigrant visas, such as those arriving for employment and to go to school. Remember, many immigrants come from countries where they have limited rights, so they have no idea that in the US:

• It is illegal for your employer to take your passport away from you.
• Your temporary work visa does not mean you have to continue to work for your employer if the employer is abusing or exploiting you.
• You don't have to sign anything you don't understand.

The pamphlet clearly spells out these and other rights for visa holders:

• Your right not to be retaliated against
• Your right to be paid for all the work you do
• Your right not to be discriminated against
• Your rights as a woman worker
• Your right to a healthy and safe workplace
• Your right to leave an abusive employment situation

It also lists the signs of human trafficking--and what to do if you think you're being trafficked. Here are 2 important hotline numbers listed in the pamphlet:

• National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline:  888.373.7888 (24 hours)

• Trafficking in Persons and Worker Exploitation Task Force Complaint Line: 888.428.7581 (weekdays 9 am-5 pm ET)

Every US embassy and consulate in the world will get copies of the pamphlet, and hopefully they'll include one with every visa they give out.

You can download the pamphlet here. Right now it's available only in English, but is being translated into Spanish, Filipino (Tagalog), Indonesian, Portuguese, Romanian, Sinhala, and Ukranian.