Trump promised sex-trafficking crackdown, but prosecutions drop to decade low

The United States government has a department called the Justice Department that catches people who break federal laws.

Its leaders promised that stopping sex trafficking — a crime where people are forced to do sexual things for money — was one of their biggest priorities.

But a news organization called Reuters looked at court records and found that fewer people than before are being charged with sex trafficking this year.

In fact, the number of charges is the lowest it has been since 2010.

Reuters talked to former prosecutors, agents, and people who help victims to find out why.

They learned that many experienced lawyers and agents who worked on these cases have left or were moved to work on immigration instead.

Some government grants that help pay for food, housing, and counseling for victims were delayed or taken away.

Fewer special visas, called T-visas, that protect victims who help police are being approved, and some victims were even detained.

Because victims no longer trust the government, their cases fall apart and they don't want to work with federal agents.

Experts say rebuilding this system could take years.