HSTFs are joint, state-level law‑enforcement task forces created under Executive Order 14159 and co‑led by the U.S. Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security. The EO and DHS say each HSTF includes representatives from federal agencies with law‑enforcement, intelligence, logistics or operational support (for example DHS components and DOJ components), plus relevant state and local law enforcement; agency heads must provide support. The EO directs provision of an operational command center and supervisory direction for HSTF activities; DHS’s Jan 23, 2026 release reiterates DOJ–DHS co‑leadership and coordination with FBI squads and multi‑agency partners.
Executive Order 14159 directs the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to “take all appropriate action” to establish and operate HSTFs in every state, to set their composition, objectives (targeting cartels, gangs, smuggling/trafficking), and to provide an operational command center and supervisory direction. The EO instructs agencies to use available law‑enforcement tools in furtherance of those objectives, but implementation must be “consistent with applicable law” and subject to available appropriations (i.e., the EO directs executive‑branch action within existing statutory authorities and budget limits).
Affiliations and arrest counts cited in the DHS release come from HSTF and partner law‑enforcement investigations (FBI, DHS/ICE, U.S. Attorneys, state/local agencies). Gang/cartel membership is typically identified by investigative evidence (intelligence, witness statements, court‑validated criminal records, communications, financial and forensic evidence) and then alleged in charging documents; membership must be proved in court for conviction. Reported arrest totals in press releases are operational tallies that may include arrests by multiple agencies and later be refined in indictments, charging documents or court dockets—independent verification is by DOJ/US Attorney press releases and public court records.
The referenced Backpage recovery refers to DOJ‑forfeited assets tied to Backpage/CityXGuide and related defendants; in 2024–2025 DOJ seized and forfeited over $200 million (reported variations around $215M–$250M appear in media/agency summaries). DOJ established a remission/compensation process (a DOJ‑run victims’ fund) using forfeited Backpage assets so trafficking survivors can apply for compensation; the remission administrator and application portal are operated under DOJ direction. Distribution and amounts to individual victims proceed through that remission process and are subject to DOJ rules (28 C.F.R. Part 9) and court supervision.
FAMS is the Federal Air Marshal Service (commonly abbreviated FAMS), a TSA component that places armed air marshals on flights; in the DHS release the partnership with AMTRAK and FAMS refers to placing QR‑coded reporting posters in stations and on trains and increasing law‑enforcement presence and reporting options. In practice DHS/partners distribute posters with QR codes linking to reporting resources, train station law‑enforcement liaisons increase patrols/awareness, and transportation‑security units (AMTRAK police, FAMS/TSA liaison) coordinate to identify, report, and recover trafficking victims.
The DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) runs training, outreach, and victim‑identification programs used in HSTF outreach: CCHT provides awareness campaigns, training for front‑line personnel (including schools, colleges, transportation and social‑service partners), victim‑identification guidance, and referral pathways to victim services and partner NGOs. The DHS release specifically cites seminars and outreach at high schools and colleges, coordinated by CCHT, to raise awareness and explain reporting options and resources for survivors.
DOL‑OIG (the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General) has an oversight role in identifying labor‑exploitation restitution and can support investigations/ recovery actions; when DOJ and DHS coordinate victim restitution related to trafficking, DOL‑OIG may assist in auditing, tracing funds tied to labor exploitation, and supporting claims processes. In the Backpage context DHS/DOJ referenced coordination with DOL‑OIG for additional victim restitution efforts; primary compensation administration for Backpage assets is via DOJ’s remission program, with other agencies (including DOL‑OIG) contributing expertise or investigation results as appropriate.