# § 28. Human trafficking defense
**(a)** **Definitions.—** In this section—
**(1)** the term “covered Federal offense” means a level A offense or level B offense, as those terms are defined in section 3771A; and
**(2)** the term “victim of trafficking” has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
**(b)** **Duress.—** In a prosecution for a covered Federal offense, a defendant may establish duress by demonstrating that the defendant was a victim of trafficking at the time at which the defendant committed the offense.
**(c)** **Record or Proceeding Under Seal.—** In any proceeding in which a defense under subsection (b) is raised, any record or part of the proceeding related to the defense shall, on motion, be placed under seal until such time as a conviction is entered for the offense.
**(d)** **Post-Conviction Relief.—** A failure to assert, or failed assertion of, a defense under subsection (b) by an individual who is convicted of a covered Federal offense may not preclude the individual from asserting as a mitigating factor, at sentencing or in a proceeding for any post-conviction relief, that at the time of the commission of the offense, the defendant was a victim of trafficking and committed the offense under duress.
**(e)** **Federal Aid.—** A failure to assert, or failed assertion of, a defense under subsection (b) by an individual who is convicted of a covered Federal offense may not be used for the purpose of disqualifying the individual from participating in any federally funded program that aids victims of trafficking.
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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 119–73, § 6(a), Jan. 23, 2026, 139 Stat. 2009.)
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Rule of Construction
> “Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 2026 Amendment note set out under
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> ], or the amendments made by this Act, may be construed to conflict with any of the crime victims’ rights described in
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> , United States Code.”
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