Gloria Romero, a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California, said sex trafficking remains a critical issue in Los Angeles, particularly in the Figueroa corridor, and called for immediate action to address what she described as a worsening crisis.

“As the pastor has said, This is a story as old as time, and we have seen it. If we live in Los Angeles, we have seen it with our own eyes,” Romero said.

Speaking in what she described as a sanctuary setting that included members of law enforcement, parishioners, and school officials, Romero said the impact of trafficking is visible across the community.

“But here in the Figueroa corridor, I see law enforcement in the room. I see, of course, too, in this beautiful sanctuary of faith, I see the parish here. I see school officials here. They have lived this on a day to day basis,” she said.

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Romero said recent developments have intensified the problem.

“And so while the world will be coming, it has been exacerbated just in the last few days. I’m going to point out with the death of El Mencho and ongoing violence in Mexico just south of San Diego,” she said.

She said the broader implications of trafficking demand immediate attention.

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“The reality of sex trafficking and its dangers to all is of paramount importance that we take this issue on now,” Romero said.

Romero identified Los Angeles County as a focal point in the fight against trafficking.

“LA County, as has been pointed out, it’s ground zero for sex trafficking of minors, and recent laws have basically turned this into a haven for the traffickers,” she said.

She described the exploitation of children as a moral crisis.

“Children are being used as sex slaves, and this is the most grotesque of crimes, and unless we work immediately to stop this, we are failing as a society,” Romero said.

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Romero’s remarks centered on the need for coordinated efforts among law enforcement, faith leaders, educators, and community members to confront sex trafficking and prevent further harm to minors in Los Angeles County.

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