Press Releases

President Trump Signs Rep. Fry’s Trafficking Survivors Relief Act into Law

Washington, D.C. — Today, President Trump signed into law Congressman Russell Fry’s (SC-07) Trafficking Survivors Relief Act in the Oval Office, with Congressman Fry in attendance, marking a major victory for survivors of human trafficking and a critical step toward restoring justice for those who were forced or coerced into committing non-violent crimes as a direct result of their exploitation.

Human trafficking remains a pervasive crisis across the United States, with victims often compelled by traffickers to engage in criminal activity such as fraud, drug offenses, or identity theft. Too often, survivors are arrested, prosecuted, and left with permanent criminal records—while their traffickers evade accountability.

At the outset of a prosecution, this legislation establishes an affirmative defense to provide survivors with the opportunity to defend against only those charges that arose directly from their trafficking victimization. It also provides critical relief for survivors who have already been convicted as a result of their trafficking victimization through vacatur, expungement, and sentencing mitigation.

Specifically, for a court to grant a motion to vacate a conviction or expunge an arrest, a defendant must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the offense was committed as a direct result of having been a victim of trafficking. Additionally, the defendant must establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that the defendant was a victim of human trafficking at the time the offense was committed.

The bill only allows for non-violent offenses that were committed as a direct result of trafficking to be eligible for vacatur and expungement. Additionally, this bill clarifies that any crimes eligible for expungement are crimes that do not involve a child as a victim.

“No survivor of human trafficking should carry a criminal record for non-violent crimes they were forced to commit under threat, abuse, or coercion,” said Congressman Fry. “This bill recognizes a simple truth: victims are not criminals. Too often, survivors are punished for their exploitation, instead of receiving the support they need to rebuild their lives. Passing the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act is a critical step toward restoring justice, dignity, and a real second chance to those who endured unimaginable exploitation.”

“I signed the TAKE IT DOWN Act and Trafficking Survivors Relief Act to modernize our tools to fight human trafficking and enable survivors to rebuild their lives,” said President Trump. “With these enhanced resources, our great law enforcement officers are now equipped with the tools needed to remove dangerous illegal aliens from our streets and dismantle human trafficking networks.”

Supporting groups of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act include South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, 3Strands Global Foundation, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, AHLA, CPAC, Engage Together, Hope for Justice, survivor leader Hollie Nadel, Justice Restoration Center, Major County Sheriffs of America, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), PACT, Paving the Way Foundation, Pearl at the Mailbox, Raven, Right On Crime, Rights4Girls, Shared Hope International, Street Grace, The Moore & Van Allen Human Trafficking Pro Bono Project, Thistle Farms, the UPS Foundation, and World Without Exploitation.

“The Trafficking Survivor’s Relief Act offers hope to those affected by modern day slavery by creating pathways to break free from traffickers, while also breaking the cycle of re-victimization for these survivors that results from forced criminality,” said Director for CPAC Center for Combating Human Trafficking Frank William Russo, Jr. “CPAC's Center for Combating Human Trafficking has supported this bill since its inception and is proud to stand with law enforcement, prosecutors, advocates, service providers, faith leaders, and, most importantly, survivors as we celebrate passage of this historic legislation.”  

“After nearly a decade of advocacy, the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act is now law, giving survivors a chance to clear their records and reclaim their lives,” said Rights4Girls Executive Director Yasmin Vafa.

“The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act begins to right a profound wrong and opens the door for survivors to reclaim their futures,” said human trafficking survivor leader Hollie Nadel.

“Justice begins when the law stops blaming the exploited. Coercion is not choice,” said human trafficking survivor leader Heather Pagàn.

“Relief, record clearance, and dignity are essential for recovery and true freedom,” said Founder & Executive Director of Pearl at the Mailbox and human trafficking survivor Sheri Lopez.

“Erasing convictions tied to exploitation restores dignity, removes lifelong barriers, and affirms that coercion is not choice,” said human trafficking survivor advocate Bekah Charleston.

“The TSRA closes the federal gap by allowing survivors to clear records tied to trafficking and access housing, employment, and education,” said Shared Hope International Founder & President and former Congresswoman Linda Smith.

“Public safety is strongest when our laws recognize the difference between predators and victims,” said Right on Crime Executive Director and former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman.

“This milestone reflects years of survivor-led advocacy and the coordinated efforts of a broad national coalition to ensure relief is fully realized for those it is intended to serve,” said National Survivor Law Collective Co-Founder and Moore & Van Allen PLLC attorney Sarah Byrne.

“The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act gives trafficking survivors an opportunity to rebuild their lives by expunging arrest records and vacating convictions related to crimes they committed as a direct result of their victimization,” said Protect All Children from Trafficking (PACT) CEO Lori Cohen. “It removes one barrier among many to assist trafficking victims in rebuilding their lives. We call on Congress to follow up on this law by funding vital services for trafficking victims, including access to safe housing and job training, so survivors can fully emerge from the shadow of their trafficking experience.”

“I know that too many of my fellow trafficking survivors are victimized twice: once by their trafficker, and a second time by the criminal-justice system,” said PACT Advocacy Program Manager Sheena Dume. “The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act recognizes that survivors who commit crimes as a direct result of their trafficking situation should be treated as victims and not criminals. The bill is a vital step in allowing survivors to escape their past and reclaim their future.”

“The members of AMWA-PATH are deeply committed to advancing policies that improve care and support for victim-survivors of human trafficking,” said the American Medical Women’s Association Physicians Against the Trafficking of Humans (AMWA-PATH). “This legislation fills gaps in the legal and financial support critical for survivor recovery and reduces additional trauma and the risk of repeat exploitation.”

“It is a huge victory to finally see the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act become law,” said Hope for Justice and Slave-Free Alliance U.S. Program Director Sarah Butler. “It is vital that survivors are supported rather than criminalized for offenses they were forced to commit under duress by their traffickers. The TSRA is a massive step forward.”

“The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act marks a historic shift from criminalizing survivors to recognizing their humanity, offering long-overdue federal relief and a real chance at rebuilding their lives,” said World Without Exploitation National Director Lauren Hersh.

“The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act is a necessary step toward ensuring justice, dignity, and healing for survivors,” said National Center on Sexual Exploitation Chief Legal Officer and Director of the Law Center Dani Pinter.

“The signing of the TSRA into law affirms that victims of exploitation are not criminals and moves us closer to survivor-centered justice,” said Paving the Way Foundation President Jan Edwards.

“By establishing a federal mechanism to clear unjust records, this law opens the door to freedom, dignity, and opportunity for survivors nationwide,” said Polaris CEO Megan Lundstrom.

“Survivors deserve safety, dignity, and a real chance to rebuild their lives, and this legislation is a necessary step toward justice,” said The Jensen Project and TJP Advocacy Founder Janet Jensen.

“This law represents meaningful progress toward a justice system that recognizes the realities of exploitation and responds with compassion and fairness,” said 3Strands Global Foundation CEO and Co-Founder Ashlie Bryant.

Congressman Fry serves on both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. To stay up to date with Congressman Fry and his work for the Seventh District, follow his official Facebook, Instagram, and X pages and visit his website at fry.house.gov.

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