On March 8, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims approved, by voice vote, a narrower version of a bill (H.R. 3244) designed to curtail international trafficking in women and children. The bill was approved by the House International Relations Committee on November 9, 1999; however, because it contains an immigration provision, the Judiciary subcommittee also has jurisdiction over the bill (see The Source, 11/12/99, p. 3).
Overall, the bill would authorize $94.5 million over two years for efforts to combat international trafficking, including prevention activities, counseling and treatment services, food, shelter, translation, and legal assistance for victims, and monitoring efforts. Of this amount, $4.5 million would be authorized for the creation of an interagency task force within the State Department to address trafficking.
Sponsored by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Sam Gejdenson (D-CT), the bill would prohibit the “purchase, sale, recruitment, harboring, transportation, transfer or receipt of a person for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, or slavery-like practices which is effected by force, coercion, fraud or deception.” H.R. 3244 also would impose economic sanctions on countries failing to meet minimum standards with respect to trafficking.
As introduced, H.R. 3244 would allow the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to provide temporary U.S. citizenship to victims of trafficking through the issuance of a newly created “T” visa category. Victims of international trafficking who cooperate with U.S. law enforcement or who face retribution in their home countries would qualify for the visa. The INS also would have the discretion to extend the visas to spouses, children, and parents of the victim.
Citing concern that the provision would lead to a tremendous influx of immigrants claiming to be victims of trafficking, Subcommittee Chair Lamar Smith (R-TX) offered an amendment that would narrow the visa eligibility to children 16 years-old and younger. Additionally, family members of the victim would not be eligible for the visas. Although the amendment was adopted by voice vote, supporters of the original provision said they would attempt to restore the language during full committee mark-up.
