White House announces new position to address human trafficking

Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The White House said Friday morning that it will create a new position in its Domestic Policy Council to address human trafficking.

Joe Grogan, head of the council and assistant to President Donald Trump said in a news briefing that Trump will take part in a two-hour summit celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act Friday. Some anti-trafficking advocates are expected to boycott the event over immigration policies.

At the event, he will sign an executive order creating the position. Grogan said Trump has made human trafficking a high priority. Vice President Mike Pence, Attorney General William Barr and Ivanka Trump will attend the summit.

"We have a broad group of people who will be in attendance," Grogan said. "The president has been focused on this since he came into office. I would note that Ivanka Trump has been a true leader on this and a great partner to work on these issues.

"It's been a great experience for me and the entire White House to work with her on this. She has a great team. Her focus has really elevated this nationally and in the White House," Grogan said.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which was first signed in 2000 and last reauthorized in 2013, focuses on the prevention, protection, and prosecution of those involved in sex trafficking and labor trafficking.

Grogan said there is some interest in the new anti-human-trafficking position but the White House was not prepared to say if it has anyone in mind for the post.

Some anti-trafficking groups said they plan to boycott Friday's summit, including the country's largest anti-trafficking coalition, Freedom Network USA, saying the administration has endangered immigrant trafficking victims.

"We have such a chasm between rhetoric and reality," Martina Vandenberg, founder of the Human Trafficking Legal Center said. "This administration is undermining protections carefully built for trafficking victims over two decades."

Critics say increased scrutiny of visas set aside for immigrant human trafficking victims put victims at risk of being deported.

A senior White House official said there are no plans to change administration policy toward immigrants, but said it has buy-in from nonprofits, the private sector and human trafficking victims.