President Donald Trump on Friday, January 23, signed into law legislation creating a federal process for human trafficking survivors to seek relief from certain criminal convictions and arrest records tied directly to their exploitation.
The White House said Trump signed H.R. 4323, the “Trafficking Survivors Relief Act,” which “establishes a process to allow human trafficking victims to file motions to vacate their convictions and expunge their arrest records for certain criminal offenses committed as a direct result of their being trafficked.”
What the new law does
According to Congress.gov’s official summary, the law establishes a process to vacate convictions and expunge arrest records for certain offenses committed by trafficking victims when those offenses “directly result from or relate to” their trafficking victimization. The measure also sets procedures for filing motions and requires the Government Accountability Office to assess the impact of the new process, including how many survivors file motions for relief.
The bill also permits certain grants for legal representation to be used for seeking post-conviction relief and allows a defendant to establish the offenses were committed under duress by demonstrating the defendant was a trafficking victim at the time of the offense, according to the congressional summary.
Appropriations bill also signed
The White House said Trump also signed H.R. 6938, a consolidated appropriations measure funding multiple federal departments and agencies through the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.
Congress.gov’s summary describes H.R. 6938 as providing FY2026 appropriations for programs and activities tied to commerce, law enforcement, science, energy and water development, public lands, and the environment. It includes appropriations for agencies such as the Department of Justice, NASA, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and others.
Texas trafficking enforcement and public awareness
The signing comes during Human Trafficking Prevention Month, when law enforcement agencies typically increase public messaging and enforcement efforts.
In Texas, the Texas Department of Public Safety has urged residents to report suspected trafficking and avoid confronting suspected traffickers. In a January 5 release, DPS said that from Sept. 1, 2024, through Aug. 31, 2025, DPS special agents recovered 119 human trafficking victims and arrested 690 suspects on trafficking-related charges.
DPS has also outlined warning signs the public should watch for—such as individuals appearing to be under someone else’s control, showing little awareness of their surroundings, exhibiting untreated injuries, or living and working at the same location under unusual conditions—while noting that a single indicator does not confirm trafficking is occurring.
