The signing of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (TSRA) into law by President Trump is a long-overdue win for justice, and an important shift in how the federal system treats victims of crime.
For years, survivors of human trafficking have been caught in a cruel paradox. Many were forced or coerced into committing nonviolent crimes (like financial fraud, drug offenses, or identity theft) at the direction of their traffickers. Even after escaping exploitation, they were still burdened with federal criminal records that blocked access to jobs, housing, and education—the very things needed to rebuild a life.
The TSRA finally begins to fix that. The law creates a federal pathway for survivors to clear convictions or arrests tied directly to their trafficking. It also allows survivors to raise an affirmative defense early in a case, helping prevent victims from being prosecuted in the first place.
At its core, this reform reflects values most Americans share: human dignity, accountability, and the belief that people are more than the worst thing that ever happened to them. It’s also smart public safety policy. When survivors can find stable work and housing, they’re far less likely to be re-victimized—and communities are safer as a result. Meanwhile, truly dangerous offenders remain behind bars.
Still, this progress highlights a bigger problem: the federal system remains far behind the states when it comes to second chances. While most states now offer some form of record-sealing or expungement for people who have stayed on the right side of the law, the federal government offers no comprehensive path forward.
That’s why the next step should be the Alice Marie Johnson Expungement Act. Named after a woman whose journey from federal prison to the White House inspired millions, the bill would create a clear framework for expunging nonviolent federal offenses largely through a petition process.
More than 70 million Americans carry a criminal record that limits their ability to work and fully participate in society. That exclusion comes at a real cost to families, communities, and taxpayers. Steady employment is one of the strongest predictors of reduced recidivism. When people who have demonstrated rehabilitation are allowed to move on, the workforce grows, government dependence shrinks, and the economy benefits.
As the TSRA moves from passage to implementation, it’s critical that the Department of Justice and federal courts make the relief process clear and accessible for survivors. But we shouldn’t stop there. The bipartisan momentum behind this law proves that when lawmakers focus on human dignity and evidence-based public safety, common ground is possible.
Now it’s time for the federal government to follow the states’ lead, and make redemption in America not just an ideal, but a real possibility for trafficking survivors and for anyone who has earned a second chance.