S. 670: IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act

This act provides statutory authority for and modifies two programs within Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)—an operational unit within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The programs are the Investigators Maintain Purposeful Awareness to Combat Trafficking Trauma (IMPACTT) Program, which provides support to employees who have been exposed to various forms of trauma related to working with victims of human trafficking, and the Victim Assistance Program (VAP), which provides support to victims of human trafficking.

(Sec. 2) The act requires the IMPACTT Program to include (1) self-awareness training for employees on recognizing the signs of burnout, compassion fatigue, and other trauma-related signs; and (2) training materials detailing resources within ICE (e.g., Employees Assistance Program, Peer Support Program) and resources outside ICE (which may include faith-based resources). The program must also provide frontline supervisors with additional training on recognizing when the employees they supervise show signs of burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and other responses to such work. The bill specifies that training modules must be carried out by licensed and accredited clinicians with relevant training and experience.

(Sec. 3) Under the act, VAP must provide oversight, guidance, training, travel, equipment, and coordination to HSI victim assistance personnel. VAP must recruit at least (1) one forensic interview specialist and one victim assistance specialist for each HSI Special Agent in Charge office; (2) one victim assistance specialist for each HSI office participating in a human trafficking task force; and (3) one victim assistance specialist for each HSI office participating in a child sexual exploitation task force. Additionally, the program must train personnel on victims' rights and victim-related policies.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.