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U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft Issues First Annual Report on Human Trafficking

Attorney General John Ashcroft announced on May 18, 2004 the first annual Report to Congress on U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons. The report, mandated by the 2003 Trafficking Victims Protection Re-authorization Act, provides information on the government's activities to combat trafficking in persons. The new report identifies a record increase in U.S. trafficking prosecutions.

The Bush Administration has made fighting human trafficking a significant priority. Since FY 2001, the Justice Department has charged 149 human traffickers, a three-fold increase over the previous three years, and secured convictions of 94 defendants, nearly twice the number convicted during the previous three years. Over the same period, the Justice Department has initiated 287 new trafficking investigations, nearly triple the number opened in the previous three years.

The report, covering FY 2003, provides information on a variety of law enforcement efforts to address the problem of human trafficking including: the Justice Department's prosecutorial efforts; the number of victims granted non-immigrant T-visa status; the amount of international grants distributed; and the type of international anti-trafficking training provided.

Report to Congress on U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons

To learn more about the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat trafficking in the United States, visit the Department’s Web site: www.usdoj.gov/trafficking.htm.