§1427 — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

Selling or giving away papers that prove or start the process of U.S. citizenship is a crime. A person can be fined under federal law and/or jailed: up to 25 years if done to help international terrorism (see section 2331), up to 20 years if done to help a drug‑trafficking crime (see section 929(a)), up to 10 years for a first or second offense not tied to those crimes, and up to 15 years for any other offense.

Title 18, §1427

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever unlawfully sells or disposes of a declaration of intention to become a citizen, certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship or copies or duplicates or other documentary evidence of naturalization or citizenship, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 25 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate an act of international terrorism (as defined in section 2331 of this title)), 20 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate a drug trafficking crime (as defined in section 929(a) of this title)), 10 years (in the case of the first or second such offense, if the offense was not committed to facilitate such an act of international terrorism or a drug trafficking crime), or 15 years (in the case of any other offense), or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on subsections (a) par. (13), (d) of section 746 of title 8, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Aliens and Nationality (Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 876, § 346(a)(13), (d), 54 Stat. 1165, 1167). Minor changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Pub. L. 107–273 substituted “to facilitate” for “to facility”. 1996—Pub. L. 104–208 substituted “imprisoned not more than 25 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate an act of international terrorism (as defined in section 2331 of this title)), 20 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate a drug trafficking crime (as defined in section 929(a) of this title)), 10 years (in the case of the first or second such offense, if the offense was not committed to facility such an act of international terrorism or a drug trafficking crime), or 15 years (in the case of any other offense)” for “imprisoned not more than five years”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–208 applicable with respect to offenses occurring on or after Sept. 30, 1996, see section 211(c) of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1028 of this title.

§1427 Sale of naturalization or citizenship papers