Federal Court Delivers Major Victory for Trafficking Survivors, Halting Anti-DEI Executive Orders and Harmful DOJ Funding Conditions
WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, Freedom Network USA secured a preliminary injunction against the Department of Justice (DOJ) that blocks them from forcing any grantee or contractor nationwide to certify that they do not operate DEI programs to receive funding.
FNUSA is represented by a team of civil rights lawyers from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.
The court also struck down new funding conditions that would have required organizations applying for grants through the DOJ’s Services for Victims of Human Trafficking program to agree to cooperate with immigration enforcement. Those funding conditions would make serving survivors near impossible.
In response, Sabrina Talukder, senior counsel with the Economic Justice Project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued the following statement regarding the preliminary injunction in the case:
“Human trafficking is illegal. But supporting survivors of all backgrounds is not. This ruling ensures that organizations can keep their doors open to all survivors, without being forced to abandon the inclusive, survivor-centered programs Congress has prioritized for 25 years. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not illegal—they are essential to reaching the goals in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of preventing trafficking, protecting survivors, and prosecuting traffickers. We will continue fighting alongside Freedom Network USA to make this protection permanent.”
Jean Bruggeman, co-executive director at Freedom Network USA, stated:
“Congress understands that human traffickers target vulnerable populations for abuse and exploitation. Successful prevention requires addressing the systemic discrimination and injustice that creates those vulnerabilities. Successful services must address the different needs of each survivor. Banning these strategies and silencing survivors would only empower traffickers. Freedom Network USA is proud to stand with survivors to fight against these unlawful and harmful restrictions.”
Aneel Chablani, Vice President and Legal Director at Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights stated:
“This preliminary ruling allows Freedom Network USA to continue its critically important work providing lifesaving services for survivors of human trafficking. Over its 25-year history and with funding through the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), Freedom Network USA has developed highly effective programming to prevent trafficking and protect survivors as Congress intended. Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is proud to be in this fight with Freedom Network USA.”