Trump to create new White House position to combat human trafficking

President Trump plans to expand the White House Domestic Policy Council by appointing an official to focus exclusively on combating human trafficking, AP reports.

Why it matters: There were more than 4,500 cases of reported human trafficking in 2019, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. However, the Trump administration previously cut back on prosecutions of these crimes and assistance to victims.

The state of play: A candidate has yet to be identified for the new post, which is to be created by executive order Friday.

• During a recent visit to Atlanta, Ivanka Trump said trafficking is "modern-day slavery."
• The new official will have to create a website providing services and information for local law enforcement, victims, advocates and others.
• The administration will also propose legislation to help law enforcement track the distribution of child sexual abuse material on the internet in real time.

Go deeper:

• Smugglers have been sawing through Trump's border wall
• $13.5 million grant to assist human-trafficking victims delayed
• Efforts to combat human trafficking slow under Trump