Final Report of the Subcommittee on Domestic Trafficking

Section III – Recommendations for Reconciling DifferencesThe third part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Subcommittee</strong>’s three-part mission was to make recommendations,as appropriate, for reconciling differences in services available to domestic andinternational victims <strong>of</strong> trafficking. Our recommendations are discussed below:A. Differences as <strong>the</strong>y exist in statute:1. Difference: Some programs, such as ACF’s Refugee Cash and Medical Assistanceand OVC’s Services for Trafficking Victims Discretionary Grant, are intended toserve only specific populations, and eligibility is restricted by statute.Recommendation: The <strong>Subcommittee</strong> does not believe that this difference merits arecommendation for reconciliation given <strong>the</strong> information we have at this time. Theintent <strong>of</strong> such programs is to provide small segments <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> victim population withservices because <strong>the</strong>y are ineligible for <strong>the</strong> cash or medical assistance programs thatdomestic victims and certified trafficking victims may receive. Some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> victimpopulations that are not eligible for <strong>the</strong>se programs may be eligible for equivalentprograms such as TANF and Medicaid. This recommendation may merit fur<strong>the</strong>rconsideration by SPOG.2. Difference: For certain Federal means-tested public benefits, lawful permanentresidents are subject to a five-year waiting period before <strong>the</strong>y may be eligible.Recommendation: The <strong>Subcommittee</strong> recommends that <strong>the</strong> possibility <strong>of</strong>developing a process to waive <strong>the</strong> five-year waiting period for access to Federalmeans-tested public benefits for adult lawful permanent residents who are alsovictims <strong>of</strong> trafficking be examined closely by SPOG. This waiver process could besimilar to <strong>the</strong> certification process currently in place for international victims. Such awaiver would permit adult LPRs to bypass <strong>the</strong> five-year waiting period for Federalmeans-tested public benefits. The <strong>Subcommittee</strong> is aware that <strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong>this recommendation may require a change in Federal statute. This recommendationmay merit fur<strong>the</strong>r consideration by SPOG.B. Differences as <strong>the</strong>y may exist in practice:1. Difference: Some NGOs report a belief that domestic victims tend to be perceivedand treated more as criminals (prostitutes or juvenile delinquents) than as victims.Recommendation: The <strong>Subcommittee</strong>’s recommendation for reconciling this is tw<strong>of</strong>old:11