Washington, DC - Last night, by unanimous vote, the Senate passed the reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. It will now be sent to President Bush for signature. The Act will bring crucial additional protection to more than 20,000 victims of forced labor and prostitution in the United States each year.
The legislation extends refugee benefits to the victim's family members, allows the victim's siblings to become eligible to enter the United States, eliminates the aging out of T Visa applicants, creates a private right of action, and reauthorizes funding to combat human trafficking and protect its victims.
"This is good news for many trafficked victims whose spouses and children have recently come to America. Under the old law, these spouses and children were excluded from public benefits, causing extreme hardship to victims who are struggling to rebuild their life," declared Attorney Jean Bruggeman, Legal Services Coordinator for Boat People SOS (BPSOS).
BPSOS recognizes the leadership of Senators Brownback, Clinton and Biden to ensure the bill's passage in a difficult congressional session. The organization extends its gratitude to the pro bono representation of Stephanie Peters and Joshua Greene of Patton Boggs, along with Patton Boggs Partner Michael T. Guiffre, and Elizabeth W. Frazee of Frazee Associates, who secured bipartisan support. Additionally, BPSOS recognizes the organizations nationwide dedicated to assisting trafficking victims that came together to support the bill.
Currently, BPSOS assists 206 Vietnamese and Chinese victims of human trafficking who were trapped for up to two years in an American Samoa sweatshop in the largest human trafficking case ever prosecuted. With a U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime grant, BPSOS and Ayuda Inc. are also building a coalition of service providers, law enforcement and community organizations to locate and assist trafficking victims in the Washington, DC metro area. Boat People SOS also assists trafficking victims in Orange County California as part of a collaborative project.