Countering Human Trafficking (S. 2991)

Summary

Creates a central office in the Department of Homeland Security to lead efforts against human trafficking, focusing on law enforcement, victim help, and prevention.

What problem does this solve?

The government's efforts to fight human trafficking were spread across different offices, making them hard to coordinate. This law creates a single, unified center to lead all of the Department of Homeland Security's anti-trafficking work, from investigations to victim support.

What does this law do?

Establishes a new anti-trafficking center

Creates the Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) inside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

Sets minimum staffing levels

Requires the new CCHT to be staffed with at least 45 employees to handle its duties, including victim protection, training, investigations, and analysis.

Creates an operations unit for investigations

Forms an Operations Unit within the CCHT to support criminal investigations, stop goods made with forced labor from entering the country, and audit government contracts for trafficking risks.

Creates a unit for victim protection and awareness

Forms a Protection and Awareness Programs Unit to focus on helping victims, providing training, and running public awareness efforts like the Blue Campaign.

Requires annual reports on border trafficking

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress each year on the number of potential trafficking victims identified at or near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Authorizes funding for the new center

Provides an authorization of $14,000,000 to carry out the activities described in the act.

Transfers the Blue Campaign

Moves the functions and resources of the Blue Campaign, a national public awareness effort, into the new CCHT to better coordinate messaging.

Who does this affect?

Victims of human trafficking
Department of Homeland Security personnel
Human traffickers

What is the real world impact?

•

Strengthens the fight against human trafficking

Centralizes the Department of Homeland Security's anti-trafficking efforts into a single office. This improves coordination and makes the government's response more effective by creating clear leadership for investigations, victim protection, and prevention programs.

When does this start?

This law became effective on December 27, 2022, and sets several deadlines for future actions.

Transfer of Anti-Trafficking Offices

The Secretary of Homeland Security has until June 25, 2023 (180 days after enactment) to transfer other departmental offices related to fighting human trafficking to the new CCHT.

Report on Needed Legislation

By December 27, 2023 (one year after enactment), the CCHT Director must submit a report to Congress identifying any new laws needed to help end human trafficking.

First Annual Report on Border Victims

The first annual report on potential trafficking victims identified at the U.S.-Mexico border must be submitted to Congress by December 27, 2023 (one year after enactment).