The recent signing of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (TSRA) into law by President Donald Trump marks a historic victory for justice and a significant step forward in our national approach to rehabilitation.
For too long, survivors of human trafficking have been trapped in a cruel legal paradox: forced or coerced by their exploiters to commit non-violent crimes like financial fraud, drug offenses, or identity theft, only to be saddled with federal criminal records that barred them from the very things—jobs, housing, and education—necessary to rebuild their lives.
By providing a federal pathway for the setting aside and expungement of these records, the TSRA finally aligns federal policy with the states that have already recognized that punishing a victim for their own exploitation is neither just nor effective. Under the newly minted law, survivors can now move to vacate convictions or expunge arrests for non-violent offenses by showing the offense occurred as a result of being trafficked. It also allows survivors to raise their trafficking experience early in a prosecution, ensuring survivors aren't unjustly criminalized in the first place.
This is a triumph of fundamental American values that transcend party lines. It reflects a deep commitment to human dignity and a belief in the redemptive power of a second chance. Moreover, it is a profound win for public safety; when survivors can access stable employment and safe housing, the cycle of vulnerability is broken, and our communities become more secure. And, to be sure, the truly dangerous actors will still be locked behind bars.
As we celebrate this milestone, we cannot ignore that the federal government is still catching up to the states. While most states have embraced record sealing or expungement reforms for those who have remained law-abiding, the federal system lacks a general mechanism for record relief.
The next logical step for this bipartisan movement is the Alice Marie Johnson Expungement Act. Named after a woman whose story of grace and transformation has inspired millions, who transitioned from a prison cell to the White House, this bill seeks to modernize the federal system by creating a structured framework for expunging non-violent federal offenses largely through a petition process.
Currently, over 70 million Americans are sidelined from the workforce due to a past record. Moving individuals from government dependence to the tax rolls is a matter of fiscal responsibility and economic growth. Furthermore, a strong deterrent to recidivism is a steady job. By removing the permanent scarlet letter of a conviction for those who have proven they can live law-abiding lives, we strengthen the American family and the American economy simultaneously.
As we focus on the successful implementation of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act—ensuring the Department of Justice and the courts provide a clear, accessible path for survivors—let us use this momentum to finish the job. We have seen that when we focus on human dignity and evidence-based safety, the partisan divide narrows. It is time for the federal government to fully follow the lead of the states and ensure that in America, a path to redemption is not just a dream, but a legal reality for all who have earned it.
Rachel A. Wright is the National Policy Director for Right On Crime.