New York State, especially New York City, is a destination for trafficked persons from all over the world who are forced into various labor sectors, such as restaurant, domestic, or commercial sex work. To address this important concern, New York State enacted the New York State Anti-Trafficking Law of 2007 (NYATL). While the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPRA) (first passed in 2000 and later re-authorized) was very substantial, improvements still needed to be made on the state level to more effectively carry out the mission. The NYATL was enacted to further those ends. The dual intent behind both the federal and state laws is to serve a humanitarian need and to safeguard the public. Secure Communities contradicts the intent of these laws and further pushes trafficking victims underground.