Trafficking Survivors Relief Act
Officially: “Trafficking Survivors Relief Act” Read the full text
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1Short title
This section would allow the Act to be called the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025 .
2Federal expungement for victims of trafficking
This section would add a new section 3771A to chapter 237 of title 18 of the United States Code, creating a federal process to vacate convictions, expunge arrests, and reduce sentences for people who committed certain offenses because they were trafficking victims. It defines a child as anyone who has not turned 18. A level A offense is a federal offense that is not a violent crime. A level B offense is a federal offense that is a violent crime, except that a violent crime with a child victim does not count as a level B offense. A covered prisoner is someone convicted of a level A or level B offense, sentenced to prison for it, and who is or previously was imprisoned under that sentence. Victim of trafficking has the meaning used in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102), and violent crime has the meaning given to crime of violence in section 16(a) of title 18. Employee and officer have the meanings given in section 2105 of title 5.
A person convicted of a level A offense, or an attorney representing them, could ask the court that imposed the sentence to vacate the conviction if the offense was committed as a direct result of the person having been a trafficking victim. A person arrested for a level A offense, or their attorney, could ask the federal district court for the district and division where the arrest happened to expunge the arrest records if the conduct or alleged conduct behind the arrest was directly related to the person having been a trafficking victim. A person arrested for a level B offense, or their attorney, could ask that same court to expunge the arrest records if the conduct or alleged conduct behind the arrest was directly related to the person having been a trafficking victim, and, in addition, either: the person was acquitted of the level B offense; the government did not pursue the charge or moved to dismiss it; or the charge was reduced to a level A offense and the person was acquitted of that level A offense, the government did not pursue it or moved to dismiss it, or any conviction on the level A offense was later vacated.
Every motion would have to be in writing, describe the supporting evidence, state the offense, and include documents showing the person is entitled to relief. If the government files a motion opposing the request within 30 days after it is filed, the court would have to hold a hearing on the motion within 15 days after the opposition is filed. If the government does not oppose, the court could hold a hearing within 45 days of the original motion but would not be required to.
The court could grant a motion to vacate a level A conviction if, after giving the government notice and a chance to be heard, it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person was convicted of a level A offense and took part in it as a direct result of being a trafficking victim. Under the same notice and evidence standard, the court could grant a motion to expunge a level A arrest if the person was arrested for a level A offense and the conduct or alleged conduct behind the arrest was directly related to being a trafficking victim. The court could grant a motion to expunge a level B arrest under the same standard if the person was arrested for a level B offense with conduct directly related to being a trafficking victim, and the same acquittal, non-pursuit-or-dismissal, or reduction-to-level-A-and-cleared conditions described above are also met.
In deciding whether someone was a trafficking victim, the court would have to consider a sworn statement or testimony from an anti-human-trafficking service provider or clinician, and could also consider other evidence it finds credible and relevant, including sworn testimony from a law enforcement officer about the person's role in coercing other trafficking victims into committing crimes. That sworn statement or testimony alone would be enough to grant a vacatur or expungement if the court finds it credible and no other evidence is readily available. The person would not need anyone else to have been convicted of or arrested for an offense before filing a motion.
A denial of a motion would be final, except for new and compelling evidence or the deficiency-cure rule described next, and the court would have to state its reasons for denying in writing. If the court denies a motion because of a fixable problem with the motion itself, it would have to give the person a reasonable amount of time to fix it. An order granting or denying a motion could be appealed under section 1291 of title 28.
If a court grants a motion to vacate a level A conviction, it would immediately have to vacate the conviction for cause, set aside the verdict and enter a judgment of acquittal, and order the expungement from all official records of references to the arrest, the criminal proceedings, and the results of those proceedings. This would not require the court to change or cancel any fine or restitution order in a criminal or civil case. Once vacated, the conviction would no longer count as a conviction under federal law, and the person would be treated as having the status they had before the arrest or the proceedings began.
If a court grants a motion to expunge an arrest, it would immediately have to order the expungement from all official records of references to the arrest, any criminal proceedings, and their results, if any. The expunged arrest would no longer count as an arrest under federal law, and the person would be treated as having the status they had before the arrest or the proceedings began, if any.
For a covered prisoner, the court that imposed the sentence could reduce the prison term for the level A or level B offense on a motion by the prisoner or on the court's own motion, after giving the government notice, after considering the sentencing factors in section 3553(a) and the nature and seriousness of any danger to a person, the community, or crime victims, and if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the prisoner committed the offense as a direct result of being a trafficking victim. Any such proceeding would remain subject to the crime victims' rights in section 3771, and the government would have to conduct a specific review of the facts and circumstances of the original sentencing to assess whether a sentence reduction would be consistent with this new law.
Whenever a court grants a motion under this new section, it would have to take any further action needed to give the person full relief. No one could be charged a filing fee, service charge, copay fee, processing fee, or any other charge to file a motion. Motions and any related documents, pleadings, or orders would be filed under seal, and no officer or employee could make available for public inspection any report, paper, picture, photograph, court file, or other document that identifies the person who filed. The new section would apply to convictions and arrests that happened before, on, or after the law takes effect.
This section would also add the new section's title to the table of sections for chapter 237 of title 18.
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2. Federal expungement for victims of trafficking (a) In general Chapter 237 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 3771A. Motion to vacate; expungement; mitigating factors (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term child means an individual who has not attained 18 years of age; (2) the term covered prisoner means an individual who— (A) was convicted of a level A offense or level B offense; (B) was sentenced to a term of imprisonment for the offense described in subparagraph (A); and (C) is, or was previously, imprisoned or incarcerated under such sentence for a term of imprisonment; (3) the terms employee and officer have the meanings given the terms in section 2105 of title 5; (4) the term Federal offense means an offense that is punishable under Federal law; (5) the term level A offense means a Federal offense that is not a violent crime; (6) the term level B offense — (A) means a Federal offense that is a violent crime; and (B) does not include a Federal offense that is a violent crime of which a child was a victim; (7) the term victim of trafficking has the meaning given that term in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7102 ); and (8) the term violent crime has the meaning given the term crime of violence in section 16(a) of this title. (b) Motions To vacate convictions or expunge arrests (1) In general (A) Convictions of level A offenses A person convicted of any level A offense (or an attorney representing such a person) may move the court that imposed the sentence for the level A offense to vacate the judgment of conviction if the level A offense was committed as a direct result of the person having been a victim of trafficking. (B) Arrests for level A offenses A person arrested for any level A offense (or an attorney representing such a person) may move the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place where the person was arrested to expunge all records of the arrest if the conduct or alleged conduct of the person that resulted in the arrest was directly related to the person having been a victim of trafficking. (C) Arrests for level B offenses A person arrested for any level B offense (or an attorney representing such a person) may move the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place where the person was arrested to expunge all records of the arrest if— (i) the conduct or alleged conduct of the movant that resulted in the arrest was directly related to the movant having been a victim of trafficking; and (ii) (I) the movant was acquitted of the level B offense; (II) the Government did not pursue, or the Government moved to dismiss, criminal charges against the movant for the level B offense; or (III) (aa) the charges against the movant for the level B offense were reduced to an offense that is a level A offense; and (bb) the movant was acquitted of the level A offense, the Government did not pursue, or the Government moved to dismiss, criminal charges against the movant for the level A offense, or any subsequent conviction of the level A offense was vacated. (2) Contents of motion A motion described in paragraph (1) shall— (A) be in writing; (B) describe any supporting evidence; (C) state the offense; and (D) include copies of any documents showing that the movant is entitled to relief under this section. (3) Hearing (A) Mandatory hearing (i) Motion in opposition Not later than 30 days after the date on which a motion is filed under paragraph (1), the Government may file a motion in opposition of the motion filed under paragraph (1). (ii) Mandatory hearing If the Government files a motion described in clause (i), not later than 15 days after the date on which the motion is filed, the court shall hold a hearing on the motion. (B) Discretionary hearing If the Government does not file a motion described in subparagraph (A)(i), the court may hold a hearing on the motion not later than 45 days after the date on which a motion is filed under paragraph (1). (4) Factors (A) Vacating convictions of level A offenses The court may grant a motion under paragraph (1)(A) if, after notice to the Government and an opportunity to be heard, the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that— (i) the movant was convicted of a level A offense; and (ii) the participation in the level A offense by the movant was a direct result of the movant having been a victim of trafficking. (B) Expunging arrests for level A offenses The court may grant a motion under paragraph (1)(B) if, after notice to the Government and an opportunity to be heard, the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that— (i) the movant was arrested for a level A offense; and (ii) the conduct or alleged conduct that resulted in the arrest was directly related to the movant having been a victim of trafficking. (C) Expunging arrests for level B offenses The court may grant a motion under paragraph (1)(C) if, after notice to the Government and an opportunity to be heard, the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that— (i) the movant was arrested for a level B offense and the conduct or alleged conduct that resulted in the arrest was directly related to the movant having been a victim of trafficking; and (ii) (I) the movant was acquitted of the level B offense; (II) the Government did not pursue, or the Government moved to dismiss, criminal charges against the movant for the level B offense; or (III) (aa) the charges against the movant for the level B offense were reduced to a level A offense; and (bb) the movant was acquitted of the level A offense, the Government did not pursue, or the Government moved to dismiss, criminal charges against the movant for the level A offense, or any subsequent conviction of that level A offense was vacated. (5) Supporting evidence (A) In general For purposes of this section, in determining whether the movant is a victim of trafficking, the court— (i) shall consider an affidavit or sworn testimony of an anti-human trafficking service provider or clinician; and (ii) may consider any supporting evidence the court determines is of sufficient credibility and probative value, including sworn testimony from a law enforcement officer detailing the role of the movant in coercing other victims of trafficking into committing criminal offenses. (B) Affidavit or sworn testimony sufficient evidence The affidavit or sworn testimony described in subparagraph (A)(i) shall be sufficient evidence to vacate a conviction or expunge an arrest under this section if the court determines that— (i) the affidavit or sworn testimony is credible; and (ii) no other evidence is readily available. (6) Conviction or arrest of other persons not required It shall not be necessary that any person other than the movant be convicted of or arrested for an offense before the movant may file a motion under paragraph (1). (7) Denial of motion (A) Finality If the court denies a motion filed under paragraph (1), the denial shall be final, except as provided under subparagraph (C) of this paragraph and subject to the discovery of any new and compelling evidence or information. (B) Reasons for denial If the court denies a motion filed under paragraph (1), the court shall state the reasons for the denial in writing. (C) Reasonable time to cure deficiencies in motion If the court denies a motion filed under paragraph (1) due to a curable deficiency in the motion, the court shall allow the movant sufficient time to cure the deficiency. (8) Appeal An order granting or denying a motion under this section may be appealed in accordance with section 1291 of title 28. (c) Vacatur of convictions (1) In general If the court grants a motion to vacate a conviction of a level A offense under subsection (b), the court shall immediately— (A) vacate the conviction for cause; (B) set aside the verdict and enter a judgment of acquittal; and (C) enter an expungement order that directs that there be expunged from all official records all references to— (i) the arrest of the movant for the level A offense; (ii) the institution of criminal proceedings against the movant relating to the level A offense; and (iii) the results of the proceedings. (2) Limitation Nothing in this subsection requires a court to amend or remove any fine or restitution order in a criminal or civil proceeding. (3) Effect If a conviction is vacated under an order entered under paragraph (1), the conviction shall not be regarded as a conviction under Federal law and the movant for whom the conviction was vacated shall be considered to have the status occupied by the movant before the arrest or the institution of the criminal proceedings related to such conviction. (d) Expungement of arrests (1) In general If the court grants a motion to expunge all records of an arrest for an offense under subsection (b), the court shall immediately enter an expungement order that directs that there be expunged from all official records all references to— (A) the arrest of the movant for the offense; (B) the institution of any criminal proceedings against the movant relating to the offense; and (C) the results of the proceedings, if any. (2) Effect If an arrest is expunged under an order entered under paragraph (1) the arrest shall not be regarded as an arrest under Federal law and the movant for whom the arrest is expunged shall be considered to have the status occupied by the movant before the arrest or the institution of the criminal proceedings related to such arrest, if any. (e) Mitigating factors (1) In general The court that imposed sentence for a level A offense or level B offense upon a covered prisoner may reduce the term of imprisonment for the offense— (A) upon— (i) motion by the covered prisoner; or (ii) the court's own motion; (B) after notice to the Government; (C) after considering— (i) the factors set forth in section 3553(a); (ii) the nature and seriousness of the danger to any person, if applicable; and (iii) the community, or any crime victims; and (D) if the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the covered prisoner committed the offense as a direct result of the covered prisoner having been a victim of trafficking. (2) Requirement Any proceeding under this subsection shall be subject to section 3771. (3) Particularized inquiry For any motion under paragraph (1), the Government shall conduct a particularized inquiry of the facts and circumstances of the original sentencing of the covered prisoner in order to assess whether a reduction in sentence would be consistent with this section. (f) Additional actions by court The court shall, upon granting a motion under this section, take any additional action necessary to grant the movant full relief. (g) No fees A person may not be required to pay a filing fee, service charge, copay fee, processing fee, or any other charge for filing a motion under this section. (h) Confidentiality of movant (1) In general A motion under this section and any documents, pleadings, or orders relating to the motion shall be filed under seal. (2) Information not available for public inspection An officer or employee may not make available for public inspection any report, paper, picture, photograph, court file, or other document, in the custody or possession of the officer or employee, that identifies the movant. (i) Applicability This section shall apply to any conviction or arrest occurring before, on, or after the date of enactment of this section. . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections of chapter 237 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 3771A. Motion to vacate; expungement; mitigating factors. .
3Reports
This section would require three reports. Within 1 year after enactment, each United States attorney would have to report to the Attorney General the number of motions filed under the new section 3771A in that attorney's district, and for each motion, the underlying offense, how the United States attorney responded to it, and the court's final decision on it. Within 1 year after enactment, the Attorney General would have to report to Congress on all professional training that United States attorneys received on recognizing signs of human trafficking during the prior 12-month period. Within 3 years after enactment, the Comptroller General would have to report to Congress assessing the impact of the new section 3771A, including the number of trafficking survivors who filed motions under it, the final court decision on each of those motions, recommendations for increasing survivors' access to post-conviction relief, and recommendations for improving how the training of United States attorneys on trafficking indicators is carried out and tracked.
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3. Reports (a) United States Attorney motions for vacatur or expungement Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, each United States attorney shall submit to the Attorney General a report that details— (1) the number of motions for vacatur or expungement filed under section 3771A of title 18, United States Code, as added by section 2, in the district of the United States attorney; and (2) for each motion described in paragraph (1)— (A) the underlying offense; (B) the response of the United States attorney to the motion; and (C) the final determination of the court with respect to the motion. (b) United States attorney training on human trafficking indicators Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report that details all professional training received by United States attorneys on indicators of human trafficking during the preceding 12-month period. (c) Government Accountability Office Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that— (1) assesses the impact of the enactment of section 3771A of title 18, United States Code, as added by section 2; and (2) includes— (A) the number of human trafficking survivors who have filed motions for vacatur or expungement under such section 3771A; (B) the final determination of each court that adjudicated a motion described in subparagraph (A); (C) recommendations to increase access to post-conviction relief for human trafficking survivors with Federal criminal records; and (D) recommendations for improving the implementation and tracking of professional training of United States attorneys on indicators of human trafficking.
4Use of grants for post-conviction relief representation
This section would bar the Office of Justice Programs and the Office on Violence Against Women from prohibiting a recipient of a grant that can be used for legal representation from using that grant to pay for legal representation in post-conviction relief cases.
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4. Use of grants for post-conviction relief representation The Office of Justice Programs or the Office on Violence Against Women, in awarding a grant that may be used for legal representation, may not prohibit a recipient from using the grant for legal representation for post-conviction relief.
5Sense of Congress
This section would state that it is the sense of Congress that the Act is a first step in responding to human traffickers who are using forced criminality as a form of force, fraud, or coercion in their trafficking operations, and that Congress is committed to continuing to find solutions to stop human traffickers and protect trafficking survivors.
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5. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) this Act is a first step to address the changing tactics of human traffickers, who are using forced criminality as a form of force, fraud, and coercion in their human trafficking enterprises; and (2) Congress is committed to continuing to find solutions as needed to thwart human traffickers and protect survivors of human trafficking.
6Human trafficking defense
This section would add a new section 28 to chapter 1 of title 18 of the United States Code. A covered Federal offense would mean a level A or level B offense as defined in the new section 3771A, and victim of trafficking would carry the same meaning as in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102). In a prosecution for a covered Federal offense, a defendant could establish a duress defense by showing that they were a trafficking victim at the time they committed the offense. If a defendant raises that defense, any record or part of the proceeding related to it would be placed under seal, on motion, until a conviction is entered for the offense. If a person convicted of a covered Federal offense did not raise the duress defense, or raised it and did not succeed, that alone could not stop the person from later arguing, as a mitigating factor at sentencing or in a post-conviction relief proceeding, that they were a trafficking victim and committed the offense under duress. That same failure to raise, or unsuccessful raising of, the defense also could not be used to disqualify the person from participating in a federally funded program that aids trafficking victims. This section would also add the new section's title to the table of sections for chapter 1.
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6. Human trafficking defense (a) In general Chapter 1 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 28. Human trafficking defense (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term covered Federal offense means a level A offense or level B offense, as those terms are defined in section 3771A; and (2) the term victim of trafficking has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7102 ). (b) Duress In a prosecution for a covered Federal offense, a defendant may establish duress by demonstrating that the defendant was a victim of trafficking at the time at which the defendant committed the offense. (c) Record or proceeding under seal In any proceeding in which a defense under subsection (b) is raised, any record or part of the proceeding related to the defense shall, on motion, be placed under seal until such time as a conviction is entered for the offense. (d) Post-Conviction relief A failure to assert, or failed assertion of, a defense under subsection (b) by an individual who is convicted of a covered Federal offense may not preclude the individual from asserting as a mitigating factor, at sentencing or in a proceeding for any post-conviction relief, that at the time of the commission of the offense, the defendant was a victim of trafficking and committed the offense under duress. (e) Federal aid A failure to assert, or failed assertion of, a defense under subsection (b) by an individual who is convicted of a covered Federal offense may not be used for the purpose of disqualifying the individual from participating in any federally funded program that aids victims of trafficking. . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 1 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 28. Human trafficking defense. .
7Technical and conforming amendments
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7. Technical and conforming amendments Section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7102 ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (16), by striking (9) and inserting (11) ; and (2) in paragraph (17), by striking (9) or (10) and inserting (11) or (12) .
8Rule of construction
This section would state that nothing in the Act, or in the changes it makes, may be read to conflict with the crime victims' rights described in section 3771 of title 18.
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8. Rule of construction Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, may be construed to conflict with any of the crime victims’ rights described in section 3771 of title 18, United States Code.
Where it is
In the House.