§1596 Additional jurisdiction in certain trafficking offenses

Summary

Federal courts can prosecute certain trafficking crimes listed in sections 1581, 1583, 1584, 1589, 1590, and 1591 even if the crime happened outside the United States when the accused is a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (see 8 U.S.C. 1101), or when the accused is physically in the United States no matter their nationality. The U.S. will not start such a case if a foreign government with jurisdiction recognized by the United States has already prosecuted or is prosecuting the same person for the same conduct, unless the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General personally approves, and that approval cannot be passed to someone else.