Trafficking Survivors Relief Act
Sponsored By: Representative Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]
Became Law
Summary
Creates a federal pathway to vacate convictions and expunge arrests for people whose crimes were caused by human trafficking. It adds a trafficking-related duress defense and lets courts reduce sentences when trafficking directly caused the offense.
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- Survivors may file a written motion to vacate nonviolent federal (level A) convictions or expunge related arrests when trafficking directly caused the offense. Motions are filed under seal and no filing fee may be charged.
- People imprisoned for qualifying offenses can ask courts to reduce their sentences if a court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that trafficking directly caused the crime. Courts must consider standard sentencing factors and the danger to victims and the community.
- U.S. Attorneys must report within 1 year on the number and outcomes of vacatur and expungement motions and related details and the Comptroller General must review the law's impact within 3 years. Grant programs may not bar recipients from using funds for legal representation in post-conviction relief matters.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Shorter prison terms for survivors
If you are in federal prison for a Level A or B offense, you can ask the sentencing court to reduce your term. The court must find it is more likely than not the crime was a direct result of trafficking. The court considers public safety, victims, and standard sentencing factors, and notifies the government. Crime victims’ rights still apply.
Trafficking-based duress defense and protections
In federal cases, you can show duress by proving you were a trafficking victim when the offense happened. If you raise this defense, the court can seal related records until there is a conviction. If you do not raise, or cannot prove, this defense, you can still seek sentencing relief or record relief later. You cannot be denied federally funded survivor programs just because you did not raise this defense.
Clear federal records for trafficking survivors
If trafficking caused your offense, you can ask a federal court to vacate a Level A conviction and expunge arrests. Some Level B arrests qualify only if you were acquitted, the case was dropped, or charges were reduced. File a written, sealed motion with evidence; a provider or clinician affidavit can be enough when other proof is hard to get. There are no filing or processing fees. If granted, records are removed from official files and no longer count as federal convictions or arrests. This applies to past and future cases, but fines and restitution are not automatically erased.
Grants can fund post-conviction legal help
Justice Department and OVW grants that allow legal representation can cover post-conviction relief for trafficking survivors. Agencies cannot bar grantees from using those funds for this work. This helps survivors get funded legal help after conviction.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]
SC • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]
MO • R
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
UT • R
Sponsored 7/16/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
NJ • R
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Kiley (CA)
CA • I
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Schmidt
KS • R
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
GA • R
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Rutherford
FL • R
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
TX • R
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Harris (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]
OH • R
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov