International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Location(s) of the organization

• Washington, D.C.

Type of Organization

Voluntary Return, Reintegration and Family Reunification Assistance

Specialized Competency

• Human Sex Trafficking
• Refugees
• Women with Children

IOM Washington operates a Return, Reintegration, and Family Reunification Program for Victims of Trafficking in the United States funded by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. It assists trafficking survivors with legal status in the United States to bring their eligible family members who have been granted derivative visas.

The program provides logistical support for these family members, including pre-departure assistance, travel arrangements and documentation, help in airports and escorts for unaccompanied children.

For trafficked persons who wish to return to their countries of origin from the United States, the program also works to ensure their safe return to and reintegration in home communities. This may include pre-departure assistance with travel documentation, transportation arrangements and reception upon arrival by IOM partners. To reduce the likelihood of re-trafficking, IOM works with NGO partners to provide needed reintegration assistance.

Since the program began in 2005, it has helped approximately 1,900 eligible family members join over 800 VoTs with legal status in the United States and assisted 30 survivors return home voluntarily.