6 U.S.C. § 242a: Department of Homeland Security Center for Countering Human Trafficking

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall operate, within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Center for Countering Human Trafficking (referred to in this Act as “CCHT”). The purpose of CCHT shall be to serve at the forefront of the Department of Homeland Security’s unified global efforts to counter human trafficking through law enforcement operations and victim protection, prevention, and awareness programs. maintain a concept of operations that identifies CCHT participants, funding, core functions, and personnel; and update such concept of operations, as needed, to accommodate its mission and the threats to such mission. be a member of the Senior Executive Service; and serve as the Department of Homeland Security’s representative on human trafficking. employees who are responsible for the Continued Presence Program and other victim protection duties; employees who are responsible for training, including curriculum development, and public awareness and education; employees who are responsible for stakeholder engagement, Federal interagency coordination, multilateral partnerships, and policy; employees who are responsible for public relations, human resources, evaluation, data analysis and reporting, and information technology; special agents and criminal analysts necessary to accomplish its mission of combating human trafficking and the importation of goods produced with forced labor; and managers. by developing, tracking, and coordinating leads; and by providing subject matter expertise; augment the enforcement of the prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor through civil and criminal authorities; coordinate a Department-wide effort to conduct procurement audits and enforcement actions, including suspension and debarment, in order to mitigate the risk of human trafficking throughout Department acquisitions and contracts; and support all CCHT enforcement efforts with intelligence by conducting lead development, lead validation, case support, strategic analysis, and data analytics. incorporate a victim-centered approach throughout Department of Homeland Security policies, training, and practices; operate a comprehensive Continued Presence program; conduct, review, and assist with Department of Homeland Security human trafficking training, screening, and identification tools and efforts; operate the Blue Campaign’s nationwide public awareness effort and any other awareness efforts needed to encourage victim identification and reporting to law enforcement and to prevent human trafficking; and coordinate external engagement, including training and events, regarding human trafficking with critical partners, including survivors, nongovernmental organizations, corporations, multilateral entities, law enforcement agencies, and other interested parties. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act [ Jan. 5, 2023 ], the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a team of not less than 10 agents within the Center for Countering Human Trafficking of the Department of Homeland Security to be assigned to exclusively investigate labor trafficking. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out paragraph (1) $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 to 2027, to remain available until expended.” the victim-centered approach must become universally understood, adopted, and practiced; criminal justice efforts must increase the focus on, and adeptness at, investigating and prosecuting forced labor cases; corporations must eradicate forced labor from their supply chains; by ensuring that its government supply chain of contracts and procurement are not tainted by forced labor; and by leveraging all of its authorities against the importation of goods produced with forced labor; and are a necessary first step for prevention, protection, and enforcement; and should be evidence-based to be most effective.”