Protection and assistance for victims of trafficking
Assistance for victims in other countries
In general
The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in consultation with appropriate nongovernmental organizations, shall establish and carry out programs and initiatives in foreign countries to assist in the safe integration, reintegration, or resettlement, as appropriate, of victims of trafficking. Such programs and initiatives shall be designed to meet the appropriate assistance needs of such persons and their children, as identified by the Task Force, and shall be carried out in a manner which takes into account the cross-border, regional, and transnational aspects of trafficking in persons. In addition, such programs and initiatives shall, to the maximum extent practicable, include the following:
Support for local in-country nongovernmental organization-operated hotlines, culturally and linguistically appropriate protective shelters, and regional and international nongovernmental organization networks and databases on trafficking, including support to assist nongovernmental organizations in establishing service centers and systems that are mobile and extend beyond large cities.
Support for nongovernmental organizations and advocates to provide legal, social, and other services and assistance to trafficked individuals, particularly those individuals in detention, and by facilitating contact between relevant foreign government agencies and such nongovernmental organizations to facilitate cooperation between the foreign governments and such organizations.
Education and training for trafficked women and girls.
The safe integration or reintegration of trafficked individuals into an appropriate community or family, with full respect for the wishes, dignity, and safety of the trafficked individual.
Support for developing or increasing programs to assist families of victims in locating, repatriating, and treating their trafficked family members, in assisting the voluntary repatriation of these family members or their integration or resettlement into appropriate communities, and in providing them with treatment.
In cooperation and coordination with relevant organizations, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, and private nongovernmental organizations that contract with, or receive grants from, the United States Government to assist refugees and internally displaced persons, support for—
increased protections for refugees and internally displaced persons, including outreach and education efforts to prevent such refugees and internally displaced persons from being exploited by traffickers; and
performance of best interest determinations for unaccompanied and separated children who come to the attention of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, its partner organizations, or any organization that contracts with the Department of State in order to identify child trafficking victims and to assist their safe integration, reintegration, and resettlement.
Additional requirement
Victims in the United States
Assistance
Eligibility for benefits and services
Requirement to expand benefits and services
In general
National human trafficking hotline
Beginning in fiscal year 2017, and in each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall make grants for a national communication system to assist victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons in communicating with service providers. The Secretary shall give priority to grant applicants that have experience in providing telephone services to victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons. The contact information of the national human trafficking hotline (including options to reach out to the hotline such as through phone, text, or TTY) shall be posted as follows:
In a visible place in all Federal buildings.
The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall seek to coordinate with the owners and operators of aircraft, airports, over-the road buses, bus stations, passenger trains, and passenger railroad stations to place the contact information of the national human trafficking hotline in the restrooms of each such aircraft, airport, over the-road bus, bus station, passenger train, and passenger railroad station operating within the United States.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and in coordination with the heads of such other Federal agencies as may be appropriate, shall place the contact information of the national human trafficking hotline at each port of entry.
Definition of victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons
For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons” means only a person—
who has been subjected to an act or practice described in section 7102(8) of this title as in effect on
who has not attained 18 years of age; or
who is the subject of a certification under subparagraph (E).
Repealed. Pub. L. 108–193, § 6(a)(2), Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2880
Certification
In general
Subject to clause (ii), the certification referred to in subparagraph (C) is a certification by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, after consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, that the person referred to in subparagraph (C)(ii)(II)—
is willing to assist in every reasonable way in the investigation and prosecution of severe forms of trafficking in persons or is unable to cooperate with such a request due to physical or psychological trauma; and
has made a bona fide application for a visa under section 1101(a)(15)(T) of title 8, as added by subsection (e), that has not been denied; or
is a person whose continued presence in the United States the Secretary of Homeland Security is ensuring in order to effectuate prosecution of traffickers in persons.
Period of effectiveness
Investigation and prosecution defined
For the purpose of a certification under this subparagraph, the term “investigation and prosecution” includes—
identification of a person or persons who have committed severe forms of trafficking in persons;
location and apprehension of such persons;
testimony at proceedings against such persons; or
responding to and cooperating with requests for evidence and information.
Assistance to investigations
No requirement of official certification for United States citizens and lawful permanent residents
Eligibility for interim assistance of children
Determination
Notification
Duration
Long-term assistance for children
Eligibility determination
Consultation
Letter of eligibility
Notification of children for interim assistance
Grants
In general
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Attorney General may make grants to States, Indian tribes, units of local government, and nonprofit, nongovernmental victims’ service organizations to develop, expand, or strengthen victim service programs for victims of human trafficking, including programs that provide trauma-informed care or housing options to such victims who are—
between 12 and 24 years of age; and
homeless, in foster care, or involved in the criminal justice system;
transitioning out of the foster care system; or
women or girls in underserved populations.
Allocation of grant funds
Of amounts made available for grants under this paragraph, there shall be set aside—
three percent for research, evaluation, and statistics;
5 percent for training and technical assistance, including increasing capacity and expertise on security for and protection of service providers from intimidation or retaliation for their activities; and
one percent for management and administration.
Limitation on Federal share
Priority
In selecting recipients of grants under this paragraph that are only available for law enforcement operations or task forces, the Attorney General may give priority to any applicant that files an attestation with the Attorney General stating that—
the grant funds awarded under this paragraph—
will be used to assist in the prevention of severe forms of trafficking in persons;
will be used to strengthen efforts to investigate and prosecute those who knowingly benefit financially from participation in a venture that has engaged in any act of human trafficking;
will be used to take affirmative measures to avoid arresting, charging, or prosecuting victims of human trafficking for any offense that is the direct result of their victimization; and
will not be used to require a victim of human trafficking to collaborate with law enforcement officers as a condition of access to any shelter or restorative services; and
the applicant will provide dedicated resources for anti-human trafficking law enforcement officers for a period that is longer than the duration of the grant received under this paragraph.
Trafficking victim regulations
Not later than 180 days after
Protections while in custody
Victims of severe forms of trafficking, while in the custody of the Federal Government and to the extent practicable, shall—
not be detained in facilities inappropriate to their status as crime victims;
receive necessary medical care and other assistance; and
be provided protection if a victim’s safety is at risk or if there is danger of additional harm by recapture of the victim by a trafficker, including—
taking measures to protect trafficked persons and their family members from intimidation and threats of reprisals and reprisals from traffickers and their associates; and
ensuring that the names and identifying information of trafficked persons and their family members are not disclosed to the public.
Access to information
Authority to permit continued presence in the United States
Trafficking victims
In general
Safety
Continuation of presence
Exception
Parole for relatives
State and local law enforcement
The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall—
develop materials to assist State and local law enforcement officials in working with Federal law enforcement to obtain continued presence for victims of a severe form of trafficking in cases investigated or prosecuted at the State or local level; and
distribute the materials developed under clause (i) to State and local law enforcement officials.
Training of Government personnel
In general
Training components
Training under this paragraph shall include—
a distance learning course on trafficking-in-persons issues and the Department of State’s obligations under this Act, which shall be designed for embassy reporting officers, regional bureaus’ trafficking-in-persons coordinators, and their superiors;
specific trafficking-in-persons briefings for all ambassadors and deputy chiefs of mission before such individuals depart for their posts;
at least annual reminders to all personnel referred to in clauses (i) and (ii), including appropriate personnel from other Federal departments and agencies, at each diplomatic or consular post of the Department of State located outside the United States of—
key problems, threats, methods, and warning signs of trafficking in persons specific to the country or jurisdiction in which each such post is located; and
appropriate procedures to report information that any such personnel may acquire about possible cases of trafficking in persons; and
a discussion clarifying that an individual who knowingly solicits or patronizes a commercial sex act from a person who was a minor (consistent with section 1591(c) of title 18) or was subject to force, fraud, or coercion is guilty of an offense under chapter 77 of title 18 and is a party to a human trafficking offense.
Construction
Protection from removal for certain crime victims
–(4) Omitted
Statutory construction
33 So in original. Two subsecs. (f) have been enacted. Assistance for United States citizens and lawful permanent residents
In general
Use of existing programs
In addition to specialized services required for victims described in paragraph (1), the program established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall—
facilitate communication and coordination between the providers of assistance to such victims;
provide a means to identify such providers; and
provide a means to make referrals to programs for which such victims are already eligible, including programs administered by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Grants
In general
Maximum Federal share
3 Omitted
Annual reports
Source
(Pub. L. 106–386, div. A, § 107,Notes
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Codification
Amendments
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2016 Amendment
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [
shall apply to pending requests for continued presence filed pursuant to section 107(c)(3) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act [of 2000] (22 U.S.C. 7105(c)(3)) and requests filed on or after such date; and
may not be applied to an alien who is not present in the United States.”
Savings Provision
Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and Transfer of Functions
Establishment of Pilot Program for Residential Rehabilitative Facilities for Victims of Trafficking
Study.—
In general.—
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Factors.—
In carrying out the study under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall—
investigate factors relating to the rehabilitation of victims of trafficking in group residential facilities, such as the appropriate size of such facilities, services to be provided, length of stay, and cost; and
give consideration to ensure the safety and security of victims of trafficking, provide alternative sources of income for such victims, assess and provide for the educational needs of such victims, including literacy, and assess the psychological needs of such victims and provide professional counseling, as appropriate.
Pilot program.—
Upon completion of the study carried out pursuant to paragraph (1), the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall establish and carry out a pilot program to establish residential treatment facilities in foreign countries for victims of trafficking based upon the best practices identified in the study.
Purposes.—
The purposes of the pilot program established pursuant to paragraph (2) are to—
provide benefits and services to victims of trafficking, including shelter, psychological counseling, and assistance in developing independent living skills;
assess the benefits of providing residential treatment facilities for victims of trafficking, as well as the most efficient and cost-effective means of providing such facilities; and
assess the need for and feasibility of establishing additional residential treatment facilities for victims of trafficking.
Selection of sites.—
The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall select 2 sites at which to operate the pilot program established pursuant to paragraph (2).
Form of assistance.—
In order to carry out the responsibilities of this subsection, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall enter into contracts with, or make grants to, organizations with relevant expertise in the delivery of services to victims of trafficking.
Report.—
Not later than one year after the date on which the first pilot program is established pursuant to paragraph (2), the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report on the implementation of this subsection.”