AG Bill Barr Awards Nearly $101 Million to Fight Human Trafficking, Help Victims of Trafficking

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The Trump Administration’s Justice Department will award over $100 million to combat human trafficking through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), announced Attorney General Bill Bar last week.

“The scourge of human trafficking is the modern-day equivalent of slavery, brutally depriving victims of basic human rights and essential physical needs as it erodes their sense of dignity and self-worth,” said Barr.

“The Department of Justice is relentless in its fight against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. Working with state and local law enforcement and community victim service providers, we will continue to bring these criminals to justice and deliver critical aid to survivors.”

U.S. Attorney General William Barr delivers remarks at the Robert F. Kennedy Main Justice Building May 9, 2019, in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The OJP allotted $97.4 million of the funds to state, local, and tribal jurisdictions, service providers, and task forces across the country, while the remaining $3.5 million will support research into human trafficking, a Justice Department press release stated.

Programs to receive awards in 2020 include the following:

• $17.7 million toward 27 collaborative, multidisciplinary task forces to fight human trafficking, involving enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement.
• $5 million in grants to three organizations to provide training and technical support.
• $35.1 million toward 73 organizations to provide 6 to 24 months of transitional or short-term housing assistance for the victims of human trafficking. This will also go toward helping victims locate permanent housing.
• And $4.3 million will go toward helping at-risk children and youth who are victims of human trafficking.

Other grants will be awarded to services to help minor victims of sex, labor, and human trafficking; specialized training to assist housing; promoting employment opportunities; and researching human trafficking in the United States and law enforcement responses to the trafficking of minors.

OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine Sullivan stated during the announcement:

“Human trafficking is a massive global enterprise with roots in cities and communities here in America and across the world.

Adds Sullivan: “The Office of Justice Programs is using all the resources at its disposal to help our state, local and tribal partners uncover and eradicate trafficking operations and help victims open the door to a new life.”

For the complete list of individual grant programs, visit OJP’s fact sheet here.

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