Houston's FBI office is turning up the volume on a fast approaching deadline, urging anyone who was advertised on Backpage.com or CityXGuide, along with their families or representatives, to submit petitions to the federal Backpage remission program before March 31, 2026. Agents say the process can help survivors recover documented financial and behavioral health costs, and they are stressing that there is no fee to apply. The renewed push comes as the federal government moves seized Backpage assets into a pot reserved for victim compensation.
If you were exploited through ads on Backpage or CityXGuide, you may qualify for financial compensation. Petitions are due March 31, 2026. For more information, visit BackpageRemission.com.
- FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) FBI Houston
Deadline Extended, Petitions Due March 31, 2026
The official Backpage Remission portal, administered by Epiq Global Inc., now lists March 31, 2026 as the last day to file a completed petition or to have paper forms postmarked. The site spells out filing steps and what documentation is required, and it also flags in plain language that neither the Department of Justice nor the Remission Administrator charges any application fee. Nonprofit organizations and legal networks are already working with survivors to pull together records and get petitions ready to file.
Where the Money Comes From
Federal prosecutors reached a civil forfeiture agreement that placed roughly $215 million in assets tied to Backpage profits into government control, according to the Central District of California. Officials say that pot of money, which includes cash, cryptocurrency and a single parcel of San Francisco real estate, will fund remission payments for eligible petitioners. Those assets represent the bulk of what authorities traced to Backpage business operations.
Who Qualifies and What Losses Count
People who were trafficked through ads posted on Backpage between Jan. 1, 2004 and April 6, 2018, and people trafficked via CityXGuide between April 8, 2018 and June 19, 2020, may qualify to file for remission if they can document financial losses linked to their exploitation. The program is limited to specific out of pocket harms such as medical and pharmacy bills, behavioral health treatment including future care, and lost wages, not nonmonetary damages like pain and suffering. Federal summaries and the official portal spell out the eligibility windows and give examples of the kinds of documentation petitioners are expected to submit.
How to Apply and Where to Get Help
Survivors, their representatives or estates can submit a petition online or request paper forms through the Remission Administrator portal. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has created a Backpage Survivor Remission Network that links petitioners with free legal help, and the National Human Trafficking Hotline can connect callers with local services and providers. The FBI is urging anyone who thinks they might qualify to review the portal and, if needed, reach out to pro bono attorneys or local victim service organizations well before the deadline.
Legal Process and What Petitioners Should Expect
The remission process operates under federal forfeiture rules and is discretionary, with officials making decisions under regulations in 28 C.F.R. Part 9. Petitioners must back up their claimed financial losses with documentation. Awards are typically capped at a petitioner share of the net proceeds that remain after allowable government expenses and valid third party claims are subtracted. Survivors are encouraged to prepare sworn statements and gather as much corroborating evidence as possible to support their losses.
Where Houston Survivors Can Start
Local survivors who come across the FBI Houston message can start with the official claims portal, then contact national or local service providers for trauma informed support and legal guidance. If you or someone you know needs immediate help or assistance locating local services, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. For the official remission portal and step by step filing instructions, see the Remission Administrator site. The FBI Houston social post points to that same portal as the next stop for potential claimants.
