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For interviews or data, contact:
Ariela Moscowitz, director of communications
[email protected] | (212) 368-7874
New Wave of Massage Parlor Crackdowns Fails To Protect Workers or Stop Trafficking
New York, NY (September 26, 2025) — Across the U.S., lawmakers are ramping up enforcement against massage parlors in the name of fighting human trafficking, but sex worker advocates warn these crackdowns do little to stop trafficking and instead make conditions more dangerous for workers.
In 2025 alone, fourteen states including New York, New Hampshire, and New Jersey have passed or proposed laws that expand the government’s power to close massage businesses, suspend licenses, and prosecute property owners. These efforts are framed as anti-trafficking, but in practice, they often result in the arrest and displacement of immigrant and low-income workers, many of whom are not being trafficked.
“These laws don’t distinguish between trafficking and consensual work whether sex is involved or not,” said Ariela Moscowitz, Director of Communications at Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW). “They rely on raids, surveillance, and criminalization instead of support, safety, or services. Workers end up arrested, evicted, and worse off than before.”
Enforcement-heavy approaches frequently push workers further underground, away from healthcare, legal protection, and community. Rather than improving safety or reducing exploitation, these policies increase workers’ vulnerability to violence and coercion while doing little to combat trafficking.
Key Facts:
* Over a dozen states have introduced tougher massage parlor regulations since 2023.
* New laws often include emergency closure powers, expanded inspections, and criminal penalties for landlords.
* Workers are routinely arrested during raids, which are often dangerous, then face housing loss, deportation risk, and unemployment.
* No evidence shows these laws reduce trafficking, but they do make workers more isolated and at risk.
It is time to shift from criminalization to support, which would center the rights, autonomy, and safety of workers instead of punishing them under the guise of protection.
Decriminalize Sex Work
Decriminalize Sex Work is a national organization pursuing a state-by-state strategy to end the prohibition of consensual, adult prostitution in the United States. We work with local organizations, advocates, and lobbyists to build community support and convince legislators to stop prostitution-related arrests. Evidence shows that decriminalizing sex work will help end human trafficking, improve public health, and promote community safety.