Suit comes after Guardian investigation found administration rolled back efforts to combat human trafficking while Trump officials deny retreat
A lawsuit by a national coalition of more than 50 organizations that fight human trafficking charges that the Trump administration’s bans on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts amount to unlawful censorship and undermine the US’s landmark anti-trafficking law.
The lawsuit alleges that two anti-DEI executive orders issued by Trump in January harm the ability of anti-trafficking groups to “zealously advocate for survivors” and violate the intent of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), a quarter-century-old law designed to eradicate sexual slavery and forced labor.
“These policies silence survivors – and we will not self-censor,” said Karen Romero, co-executive director of Freedom Network USA, the coalition of anti-trafficking organizations that filed the complaint in federal district court in Chicago.
As a result of Trump’s executive orders, the lawsuit says, the Department of Justice has barred Freedom Network USA from using dozens of words – including “gender”, “race”, “ethnicity”, “accessibility” and “fairness” – in its federally funded work. Seventy per cent of the organization’s budget comes in the form of grants from the department’s office for victims of crime.
