Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur joined Sisters of St. Joseph in front of Mount St. Joseph’s in Brighton, Massachusetts, for a prayerful protest against human trafficking.
We did it! The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (TSRA) (H.R. 4323 / S. 2255) was recently signed into law. This critical legislation—long championed by the Sisters of Notre Dame and our justice partners—marks a transformative step forward for survivors of human trafficking across the nation.
The Sisters of Notre Dame played an integral role in the passage of this law through steadfast advocacy, education and compassionate leadership. Our community gathered on Capitol Hill in July 2025 to urge lawmakers to support the TSRA, and Sister Maryann Agnes Mueller, Justice and Peace Coordinator for the Felician Sisters of North America, offered powerful testimony during our Congressional briefing. In the months that followed, Sisters, Associates and partners amplified this message by repeatedly contacting Representatives and Senators. Your persistent outreach made this historic moment possible.
This new law establishes a path for survivors to vacate convictions and expunge arrest records for certain offenses that were directly tied to their exploitation. The Government Accountability Office must assess the impact of this process, including the number of human trafficking survivors who file motions to vacate convictions or expunge records. The law also permits specific grants for legal representation to be used to seek post-conviction relief. By recognizing that these offenses were often committed under coercion or duress, the TSRA restores dignity, autonomy and opportunity to those who have endured unimaginable harm.
Please join us in praying for all victims and survivors of human trafficking.
