Durbin Questions Witnesses on Protecting Vulnerable Youth From Sex Trafficking

Senators highlight legislation to support runaway and homeless youth, address challenges in holding traffickers accountable

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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U.S. Senator Dick Durbin questioned experts in a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on confronting child trafficking and protecting vulnerable youth. Durbin discussed his bipartisan Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act and the difficulties law enforcement faces in properly identifying and supporting victims of trafficking, particularly young girls of color.

Why it matters

Child trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable youth, including runaways and homeless youth, is a major crisis that requires stronger federal intervention and support services. Durbin's questioning highlighted the need for legislative reforms and better training for law enforcement to properly identify victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

The details

During the hearing, Durbin asked Ms. Julia Einbond of Covenant House New Jersey about her organization's work supporting homeless youth, many of whom are survivors of trafficking. Einbond noted that over 10% of the youth they serve have experienced trafficking. Durbin also questioned Ms. Yasmin Vafa of Rights4Girls about the challenges in holding traffickers accountable, as law enforcement often wrongly views victims, especially young girls of color, as willing participants rather than victims. Vafa urged the subcommittee to review state laws that treat the sex buying of minors as a misdemeanor rather than a felony.

  • The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism hearing took place on March 7, 2026.

The players

Dick Durbin

U.S. Senator and Democratic Whip, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Julia Einbond

CEO of Covenant House New Jersey, an organization that provides services to runaway and homeless youth.

Yasmin Vafa

Executive Director of Rights4Girls, an organization focused on addressing gender-based violence against young women and girls.

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What they’re saying

“Part of the problem is that law enforcement ends up pointing to the victim for their activity, rather than the perpetrator. Explain why we can't get it across to them that they are clearly pointing in the wrong direction.”

— Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator (riverbender.com)

“More than 10 percent of the youth we serve annually have survived human trafficking at some point in their life.”

— Julia Einbond, CEO, Covenant House New Jersey (riverbender.com)

What’s next

The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee is expected to continue examining ways to strengthen federal laws and support services to protect vulnerable youth from trafficking and exploitation.

The takeaway

This hearing underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to better identify, support, and protect victims of child trafficking, particularly runaway and homeless youth who are disproportionately targeted by traffickers. Improving law enforcement training and updating state and federal laws are critical to holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring vulnerable youth receive the resources and care they need.