Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102

§1590 Trafficking with Respect to Peonage, Slavery, Involuntary Servitude, or Forced Labor

Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 77 — PEONAGE, SLAVERY, AND TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS › § 1590

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

It is a crime to knowingly bring in, hide, move, give, or get someone to make them work or provide services illegally. A person who does this can be fined, jailed for up to 20 years, or both. If someone dies or the crime includes kidnapping, serious sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the sentence can be any number of years or life in prison. Anyone who blocks, tries to block, or interferes with enforcing this law faces the same punishments.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §1590

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whoever knowingly recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains by any means, any person for labor or services in violation of this chapter shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If death results from the violation of this section, or if the violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or the attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the defendant shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both.

(b)Whoever obstructs, attempts to obstruct, or in any way interferes with or prevents the enforcement of this section, shall be subject to the penalties under subsection (a).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–457 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 1590

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102