- A bipartisan group of 36 AGs sent a letter to Congressional leaders requesting assistance in ensuring that tips received by the National Human Trafficking Hotline are forwarded to the appropriate state law enforcement agencies in a timely manner.
- According to the letter, the AGs recently discovered that the hotline only forwards tips to state law enforcement about suspected adult victims of human trafficking in limited circumstances. Specifically, the letter alleges that Polaris, which operates the hotline with funding authorized by Congress, only forwards tips to states when the victim self-reports and affirmatively consents to the Hotline making a report to the state. The letter also alleges that some states have experienced significant, months-long delays between when a tip was first made and when it was reported to the state.
- The AGs ask Congress for changes to Polaris’ operation of the hotline and tip reporting policies to ensure that the states receive all tips regarding suspected human trafficking of adults in a prompt manner.