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  2. About DHS
  3. Laws & Regulations
  4. Human Trafficking Laws & Regulations

Notice

This page and its content reflects language used at the time of publication and may include terminology no longer used by the Department.

Human Trafficking Laws & Regulations

Below is a non-exhaustive list of human trafficking related laws, regulations and policies relevant to DHS.

Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and Its Reauthorizations

  • Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-386 (Oct. 28, 2000)
  • Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003, Pub. L. No. 108-193 (Dec. 19, 2003)
  • Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-164 (Jan. 10, 2006)
  • William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-457 (Dec. 23, 2008)
  • Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, Pub. L. No. 113-4, title xii (Mar. 7, 2013)
  • Abolish Human Trafficking Act of 2017, Pub. L. No. 115-392 (Dec. 21, 2018)
  • Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017, Pub. L. No. 115-393 (Dec. 21, 2018)
  • Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-425 (Jan. 8, 2019)
  • Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2017, Pub. L. No. 115-427 (Jan. 9, 2019)

Related Legislation

  • Violence Against Women Act of 1994, Pub. L. No. 103-322, 108 Stat. 1796, 1902 (September 13, 1994)
  • Violence Against Women Act 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-162 (Jan. 5, 2006)
  • Technical Corrections to Violence Against Women Act 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-271 (Aug. 12, 2006)
  • Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114-22 (May 29, 2015)
  • Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, Div. W. of Pub. L. No. 117-103 (Mar. 15, 2022)

Enforcement

Criminal Statutes

  • 18 U.S.C. § 1589, Forced Labor
  • 18 U.S.C. § 1591, Sex Trafficking of Children OR by Force, Fraud or Coercion
  • 18 U.S.C. § 1592, Unlawful Conduct with Respect to Documents in Furtherance of Trafficking, Peonage, Slavery, Involuntary Servitude, or Forced Labor (aka Document Servitude)
  • 18 U.S.C. § 1594, Attempt/Conspiracy/Forfeiture
  • 18 U.S.C. § 1597, Unlawful Conduct Regarding Immigration Documents
  • 18 U.S.C. § 1351, Fraud in Foreign Labor Contracting
  • Additionally, DHS conducts criminal investigations of related offenses that traffickers commit including fraud, drug trafficking, immigration, human smuggling, money laundering, visa fraud, child sexual abuse materials, interstate prostitution, sexual exploitation of children, and obstruction.

Trade Enforcement Related to Forced Labor

Victim Protections

Victims’ Rights

  • Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982, Pub. L. No. 97-291, 96 Stat. 1248 (1982)
  • Victims of Crime Act of 1984, Pub. L. No. 98-473, 98 Stat. 2170 (1984)
  • Federal Guidelines for Treatment of Crime Victims and Witnesses in the Criminal Justice System, 18 U.S.C. § 1512 (1984)
  • Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-647 (1990)
  • Victims’ Rights and Restitution Act of 1990, 34 U.S.C. § 20141 (2006)
  • Crime Victims’ Rights Act of 2004, 18 U.S.C. § 3771 (2006 & Supp. III 2009)
  • U.S. Department of Justice, Attorney General’s Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance (2023)

Section 1367 Confidentiality Protections

Children

  • 8 U.S.C. § 1232, Enhancing Efforts to Combat the Trafficking of Children

Continued Presence

T Visa

U Visa

VAWA Self-Petition

Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification

  • INA § 101(a)(15)(J), 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(1527)(J)
  • 8 C.F.R. § 204.11, Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification
  • 8 C.F.R. § 245.1(e)(3) Special Categories, Special Immigrant Juveniles (adjustment of status)
  • 8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(4), Allocation of Immigrant Visas, Preference Allocation for Employment-Based Immigrants, Certain Special Immigrants
  • 8 U.S.C. § 1255(h), Adjustment of Status, Application with Respect to Special Immigrants
  • 8 U.S.C. § 1357(h), Protecting Abused Juveniles
  • USCIS Policy Manual Vol. 6, Part J: Special Immigrant Juveniles

Asylum

Protection from Removal

DHS Policy

Federal

Last Updated: 11/09/2022
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