A Polaris report that was based on data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline identified over 800 persons who were victimized by human trafficking through 2015, 2016, and 2017. All were in the United States working under temporary work visas. According to Polaris, “the temporary work visa system is badly broken.”
The individual work visa system is a patchwork of laws and regulations. There is a lack of transparency in the system, and a lack of accountability. Workers fall through the cracks and become victims of traffickers.
The Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act of 2018, H.R.4777, has been sponsored by Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL-21). The bill has been introduced but has yet to pass either the House or the Senate. On 01/24/2018, it was referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. It is currently in subcommittee in the House of Representatives.
Please urge the US Congress to pass the Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act of 2018. The Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act would modify data reporting requirements, and insure that the federal government keeps organized records on all temporary visa holders AND THEIR EMPLOYERS. This information would be publicly available. Thus, the temporary workers would be less likely to become vulnerable to exploitation.
Please contact your members of Congress and ask them to support this bill.
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