President Donald Trump signed a bill into law authored by Missouri Congresswoman Ann Wagner aimed at helping victims of human trafficking escape the long-term effects of their abuse.
The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act gives victims of human trafficking a legal pathway to clear certain federal convictions or arrest records when those offenses were committed because of force fraud or coercion.
“I have worked on this legislation for years with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I thank President Trump for taking swift action to sign this into law,” Wagner wrote in a release.
“Traffickers and sexual abusers too often force their victims to commit crimes against their will, leaving these vulnerable individuals with a criminal record that stays with them for life.
“This indelible mark perpetuates the cycle of exploitation by making it harder for victims to access critical assistance services or get a job, housing, and education that can help them break away from the abuse.”
The new law allows survivors to ask a federal judge to vacate non violent convictions or expunge arrests by showing the crime was directly tied to their exploitation.
Courts may consider evidence from service providers or police and must seal records to protect victim privacy.
If a judge grants relief, the survivor’s federal record can be cleared and their experience as a trafficking victim can be taken into account when sentencing comes around.
“Our justice system should be helping victims, not making life harder for them, and my Trafficking Survivors Relief Act will right that wrong by providing victims with federal criminal record relief so they can live their lives and find justice.”
Wagner first introduced the bill more than a decade ago and most recently worked with Rep. Russell Fry of South Carolina to advance it in the 118th and 119th Congresses.
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and the St. Louis County Police Department recently warned Missouri ranks among the states with the highest number of reported trafficking cases in the country.
According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 272 trafficking cases were identified in Missouri in 2024 involving 539 victims. Sex trafficking accounted for the majority of those reports.
Federal data shows states reported 3,224 human trafficking incidents in 2023, including more than 2,400 commercial sex trafficking incidents and hundreds of involuntary servitude incidents, with more than 650 offenders arrested in connection with these cases.
The Covering House in St. Louis has been on the front lines for nearly two decades helping sexually exploited and trafficked youth.
In 2024, The Covering House served 26 youths in 2024 and provided more than 1,000 safe nights of shelter along with community awareness and prevention training to more than 1,000 residents.
The organization says 90 percent of its clients have been trafficked by someone they know and the average age of those youth is about 15 years old.
The non-profit recently completed construction of a new house to better provide long term residential care and support services for those youth.
Sex Trafficking Resources in the St. Louis region:
- Emergency situations: Call 911
- St. Louis County Police Department non emergency tips line: 314-615-8618
- St. Louis City Human Trafficking Tip Line: 314-444-5385
- National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
- National Human Trafficking Hotline text line: Text HELP to 233733
- Refer a youth to The Covering House in St. Louis.
