Human Trafficking Council Secures Funding and Reassures Immigrant Victims of Legal Support and Safety

The newly established council prioritizes victim services with $15 million in funding, ensuring undocumented victims receive legal protection and access to public aid without deportation fears

Over a year after it was first announced, the Territorial Council on Human Trafficking met for the first time last week, with Ian Clement of the V.I. Dept. of Justice appointed as chair.‌ During Monday’s Government House press briefing, which was broadcast from St. John, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. reminded the public that "this law has actually been on the Virgin Islands books for like, 20-30 years, and I think throughout the years it probably got lost. We just reassembled the council.”

Apart from Mr. Clement, council members include:

V.I. Police Department Lieutenant Deborah Hodge (vice chair)
Jason Marsh, representing VIPD Acting Commissioner Mario Brooks
Department of Human Services Commissioner Averil George
Law Enforcement Planning Commission Director Moleto Smith
St. Croix Administrator Samuel Sanes
Peace Officer Standards and Training Director Gleston McIntosh
Department of Justice Victim Advocate Ruth Warren
Women’s Coalition Executive Director Clema Lewis
Family Resource Center Executive Director Anya Stuart.

The council’s mandate, according to the announcement made last week, is to come up with a comprehensive plan to provide services to victims, collect data on human trafficking in the territory, promote public awareness of the problem, and coordinate training for government workers on combating human trafficking and supporting victims.