§ 242a. Department of Homeland Security Center for Countering Human Trafficking

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(a)Establishment

(1)In general 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”).

(2)Purpose 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.

(3)Administration Homeland Security Investigations shall—

(A)maintain a concept of operations that identifies CCHT participants, funding, core functions, and personnel; and

(B)update such concept of operations, as needed, to accommodate its mission and the threats to such mission.

(4)Personnel

(A)Director The Secretary of Homeland Security shall appoint a CCHT Director, who shall—

(i)be a member of the Senior Executive Service; and

(ii)serve as the Department of Homeland Security’s representative on human trafficking.

(B)Minimum core personnel requirements Subject to appropriations, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that CCHT is staffed with at least 45 employees in order to maintain continuity of effort, subject matter expertise, and necessary support to the Department of Homeland Security, including—

(i)employees who are responsible for the Continued Presence Program and other victim protection duties;

(ii)employees who are responsible for training, including curriculum development, and public awareness and education;

(iii)employees who are responsible for stakeholder engagement, Federal interagency coordination, multilateral partnerships, and policy;

(iv)employees who are responsible for public relations, human resources, evaluation, data analysis and reporting, and information technology;

(v)special agents and criminal analysts necessary to accomplish its mission of combating human trafficking and the importation of goods produced with forced labor; and

(vi)managers.

(b)Operations Unit The CCHT Director shall operate, within CCHT, an Operations Unit, which shall, at a minimum—

(1)support criminal investigations of human trafficking (including sex trafficking and forced labor)—

(A)by developing, tracking, and coordinating leads; and

(B)by providing subject matter expertise;

(2)augment the enforcement of the prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor through civil and criminal authorities;

(3)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

(4)support all CCHT enforcement efforts with intelligence by conducting lead development, lead validation, case support, strategic analysis, and data analytics.

(c)Protection and Awareness Programs Unit The CCHT Director shall operate, within CCHT, a Protection and Awareness Programs Unit, which shall—

(1)incorporate a victim-centered approach throughout Department of Homeland Security policies, training, and practices;

(2)operate a comprehensive Continued Presence program;

(3)conduct, review, and assist with Department of Homeland Security human trafficking training, screening, and identification tools and efforts;

(4)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

(5)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.

(Pub. L. 117–322, § 3, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4433.)

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