Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies
Volume 6, Issue 4, 2008, Pages 508-525

U.S. response to human trafficking: Is it enough? (Article)

Roby J.L.* , Turley J. , Cloward J.A.G.
  • a School of Social Work, Brigham Young University, 2190 Joseph F. Smith Building (JFSB), Provo, UT 84602, United States
  • b Community Based Mental Health Center, Provo, UT, United States
  • c [Affiliation not available]

Abstract

An estimated 17,000 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year. Nearly a decade after passing the Trafficking Victims and Protection Act (TVPA) to address human trafficking, the U.S. is still grappling to balance punishing traffickers and protecting victims. This paper examines the victim benefits and the trend in criminal prosecution of the perpetrators under the new national policy. Although the policy is an improvement over past policies, only a fraction of the estimated victims are being reached and assisted. The authors explore possible explanations for victim under-identification and assert that victims should be assisted for the harm they have suffered, rather than primarily as law enforcement and prosecution tools. © 2008 by The Haworth Press. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Human trafficking Trafficking victims T-Visa Trafficking victims protection act

Index Keywords

law enforcement population estimation immigration policy policy implementation United States trafficking North America
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-59849128171&doi=10.1080%2f15362940802480241&partnerID=40&md5=ca58de67c218e6c903bba77ad9fd271b
DOI: 10.1080/15362940802480241
ISSN: 15562948
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English