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As Miami welcomed thousands this summer for the World Cup, two undergraduate students from Florida International University helped investigators with identifying human traffickers.

“We took part in taking another bad person off the streets to know that they can never hurt anybody else again,” shared Sophia Marticorena.

Marticorena and Klaudia Litardo are both seniors at Florida International University’s Jack Gordon Institute, and this summer they were given the opportunity to work alongside the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office as intelligence analysts.

“I will say…we knew that we wanted to be in the field combating these types of crimes; we already had that idea. I will say it opened our eyes to a different perspective of what’s the reality of how the world actually works,” explained Litardo.

As data analysts, the two students played a pivotal role in gathering information on potential predators and their patterns.

“It’s difficult to pinpoint, ‘Oh, that person’s a human trafficker’, you know what I mean?” shared Marticorena. “So, it was one of those things where we had to learn the different behaviors of personalities and just the signs.”

The two students’ work helped investigators and prosecutors build their cases, ultimately helping the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and their partners with more than 20 human trafficking arrests during the World Cup,

“Truly, it’s incredible the amount of people it takes to actually execute these operations,” shared Marticorena. “From the starting point, to where they suspect someone is conducting human trafficking, to actually putting them behind bars. Being able to see that whole process unfold and being able to take part in that process has truly been rewarding.”

Litardo said she takes special pride, knowing their efforts helped to make a difference in a big way.

“I was part of something bigger than myself that I never expected to, like, be at this age. Honestly, at this age, I wouldn’t be thinking like I was going to be combating criminals or like helping targeting people, explained Litardo.

Marticorena said the experience allowed her to solidify her plans to pursue this career field.

The students’ time with the State Attorney’s Office was the first time students not pursuing a law degree were given this opportunity.

The two women graduate December 2026.