AP exclusive: Change in human trafficking reporting alarms advocates for migrant children

The Trump administration has directed caregivers for migrant children to stop reporting human trafficking concerns directly to the office dedicated to assisting victims, a move critics argue could facilitate the deportation of some vulnerable minors. This change was outlined in a September 10 memo obtained by The Associated Press.

Supporters of the change, including Jean Bruggeman, co-executive director of Freedom Network USA, claim it will streamline the reporting process. However, critics like Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden argue that it requires children and their advocates to report human trafficking to the same agency that is incarcerating them.

The directive shifts responsibility for reporting to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which manages the housing of unaccompanied minors. The Office of Trafficking in Persons, established in 2015 to protect trafficking victims, will only receive referrals if the Office of Refugee Resettlement deems the claim viable.

This shift comes as part of the administration's hard-line immigration agenda, which has introduced some of the most restrictive policies towards immigrants in decades. The Office of Refugee Resettlement claims the change is based on a review that found 95% of 9,000+ reports were deemed non-viable trafficking leads. However, 58% of reports from shelter staff and case managers still qualified for trafficking-related benefits.