The Trump administration has drawn sharp criticism after cutting all federal funding for legal representation for sex-trafficking survivors, a move that advocates say will prevent many victims from clearing their criminal records. The decision, effective immediately, halts grants that had enabled public service attorneys to help survivors navigate expungement processes under state safe harbour laws.
Anti-trafficking groups, the American Bar Association, and members of Congress have urged the Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to reverse the policy. They argue that without legal aid, survivors will struggle to access jobs, housing, and healthcare, as criminal records often block these opportunities. A 2016 survey found 91% of trafficking survivors had been arrested while being exploited.
The Office of Justice Programs defended the change, stating that funding is being redirected to more immediate needs such as food, clothing, and medical treatment. However, attorneys like Sasha Naiman of the Ohio Justice and Policy Centre say this misunderstands survivors' realities: 'You can't get access to many of these more immediate things with a criminal record.'
Survivors like Amy, who had 105 charges expunged under Ohio's safe harbour law, fear others will be left behind. 'It's hard to describe the feeling that now I could get a second chance at life,' she said. Advocates warn that without funding, many victims will be unable to afford legal help to clear their records.
