Repository of Practices

Primary GCM Objectives

GCM Guiding Principles*

*All practices are to uphold the ten guiding principles of the GCM. This practice particularly exemplifies these listed principles.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Dates

2005 - Present

Geographic scope

Summary

The IOM Return, Reintegration, and Family Reunification Program for Victims of Trafficking in the United States (U.S. TIP Program) has been funded by the US Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) since 2005 to facilitate return, reintegration, and family reunification for foreign national victims of human trafficking. Foreign national victims of human trafficking who have complied with requests for law enforcement cooperation and been issued legal status in the United States, may request assistance to bring eligible family members to the United States through qualifying forms of immigration relief. Foreign national victims of human trafficking wishing to repatriate to their countries of origin are also eligible for voluntary return travel assistance and reintegration support to mitigate the chance of re-trafficking. The US Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 and its subsequent reauthorizations allow for the reunification of immediate family members with victims of trafficking granted the legal right to remain in the US under the T-visa program. Though the US anti-trafficking legislation recognizes family reunification as an important part of a victim’s recovery and therefore creates an avenue for this, many victims do not have the requisite knowledge or resources to complete consular processing or coordinate travel to the US. The U.S. TIP Program fills a crucial gap by providing rapid and customized family reunification assistance to foreign national VoTs in the United States and their eligible family members. IOM’s experience in direct assistance to vulnerable migrants through a network of more than 550 field locations makes it the agency best equipped to undertake this program assisting VoTs and their families. The goal of the U.S. TIP Program is to uphold and strengthen the United States’ commitment to the protection of VoTs identified in the United States and their eligible derivatives residing abroad, mostly children.

Organizations

Main Implementing Organization(s)

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Benefit and Impact

Since 2005, The US TIP Program has reunited 3,285 family members with more than 1,300 victims of human trafficking in the United States. The program has also facilitated the voluntary return and reintegration of 34 VoTs to their countries of origin. In FY 2023 alone, the US TIP Program facilitated 187 successful family reunifications. Since the inception of the program, the breakdown of the gender of beneficiaries assisted are 46% male, and 54% female. Furthermore, the majority of the beneficiaries assisted are minors (60%) and 40% are adults.

Programs continued engagement with NGOs, attorneys and survivors demonstrates the uniqueness of services provided and long-lasting impact on family unity and wellbeing for those family members who benefited from the program. Many families are reunited after years of separation and trauma caused by human trafficking.

Key Lessons

There are multiple challenges to implementing a global counter-trafficking project with a heavy operations component. The U.S. TIP Program attempts to complete as many cases as possible in the safest and most cost-effective manner. Challenges depend on several variables, including:

• The number of VoTs who are issued derivative T-visas for their eligible family members;
• The number of eligible family members willing to reunify with the VoTs in the United States;
• NGO capacity and funding to provide VoTs with case management, including referrals;
• The readiness of VoTs to receive family members. Many need several years before they have stable housing and income to support derivatives joining them in the United States;
• Resolving complex custody issues, and
• Limited visa appointment availability due to delays and backlogs at U.S. embassies and consulate overseas.
• In many instances, families of VoTs reside in rural areas or are part of indigenous communities. This geographical dispersion presents significant challenges for our colleagues at IOM missions abroad.

The expertise the U.S. TIP Program developed has resulted in increased efficiencies and shorter processing periods for cases that present many of the challenges listed above. U.S. TIP Program staff work diligently with referring agency representatives, U.S. consulates, embassies within the United States and host country government counterparts to identify safe, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for cases presenting complex issues. Challenging cases also require clear communication with families about delays and obstacles to case progression; U.S. TIP Program staff work to help manage beneficiaries’ expectations based on foreseen issues.

Recommendations(if the practice is to be replicated)

It is important to build a coalition of partners among governmental, nongovernmental entities, international organizations, survivors and their representatives in order to ensure that survivors and their families have access to victim-centred and trauma informed services, including access to justice and family reunification avenues.

Innovation

U.S. TIP Program prioritizes high risk cases involving children, specifically unaccompanied minors who are waiting to reunite with their parent/parents in the United States. For this purpose, the U.S. TIP Program developed information materials for consular officials, training and operational guidelines for case workers and operational escorts accompanying children on their family reunification journey, as well as what to expect on the day of travel brochures to share with families with minor children. In addition, the information materials and videos on the family reunification assistance are developed to inform the survivors, their communities, consular officers, attorneys and NGOs serving survivors and their families about the program and services they can access if eligible.

Additional Resources

US TIP Program Fact Sheet

Media

English US TIP Program Video

Date submitted:

21 June 2024

Disclaimer: The content of this practice reflects the views of the implementers and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations, the United Nations Network on Migration, and its members.