Attorney General Alan Wilson announced on May 5 that he has joined a coalition of twelve states in filing a friend-of-the-court brief, asking the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals to permit human traffickers to be held liable under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) for conduct occurring outside United States borders.
The case centers on whether states can pursue civil suits against those who traffic their residents, even if the trafficking took place internationally. The TVPA authorizes such actions to protect victims, including children and those subjected to sex trafficking through force, fraud, or coercion.
“If you traffic South Carolinians, we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will put you behind bars,” Attorney General Wilson said. “As our states’ chief prosecutors, it is our job to fight against this vile act and bring justice for victims, regardless of where the act takes place.”
Wilson established the Human Trafficking Task Force in South Carolina and has worked with organizations statewide to combat modern-day slavery. In 2025 alone, state law enforcement investigated 315 tips related to human trafficking. Nationally, federal prosecutions for human trafficking increased by 73 percent from 2013 to 2023 while convictions rose by 64 percent during that period.
Wilson was joined in this effort by attorneys general from Iowa, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. The group is urging the appeals court to reverse lower court rulings that limited liability for traffickers based on location.
The South Carolina Attorney General supports victims of crime through advocacy and resources while serving as the state’s primary legal advocate and enforcer; its responsibilities include handling prosecutions across criminal matters as well as enforcing laws related to securities and consumer protection according to the official website. The office collaborates with law enforcement agencies throughout South Carolina under Wilson’s leadership.
