Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§3181 Scope and limitation of chapter
Title 18 › Part PART II— - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE › Chapter CHAPTER 209— - EXTRADITION › § 3181
Summary
Rules for handing over people who committed crimes abroad only apply while an extradition treaty with that country exists. But the U.S. may surrender people who are not U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents for violent crimes against U.S. nationals abroad without a treaty if the Attorney General certifies in writing that foreign evidence shows the acts would be crimes of violence under section 16 and that the charges are not political. "National of the United States" means the term in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)).
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §3181
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The provisions of this chapter relating to the surrender of persons who have committed crimes in foreign countries shall continue in force only during the existence of any treaty of extradition with such foreign government.
(b)The provisions of this chapter shall be construed to permit, in the exercise of comity, the surrender of persons, other than citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States, who have committed crimes of violence against nationals of the United States in foreign countries without regard to the existence of any treaty of extradition with such foreign government if the Attorney General certifies, in writing, that—
(1)evidence has been presented by the foreign government that indicates that had the offenses been committed in the United States, they would constitute crimes of violence as defined under section 16 of this title; and
(2)the offenses charged are not of a political nature.
(c)As used in this section, the term “national of the United States” has the meaning given such term in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 658 (R.S. § 5274). Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Pub. L. 104–132 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsecs. (b) and (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Extradition Treaties Interpretation Pub. L. 105–323, title II, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 3033, provided that: “SEC. 201.
Short Title
.“This title may be cited as the ‘Extradition Treaties Interpretation Act of 1998’. “SEC. 202. FINDINGS.“Congress finds that—“(1) each year, several hundred children are kidnapped by a parent in violation of law, court order, or legally binding agreement and brought to, or taken from, the United States; “(2) until the mid-1970’s, parental abduction generally was not considered a criminal offense in the United States; “(3) since the mid-1970’s, United States criminal law has evolved such that parental abduction is now a criminal offense in each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia; “(4) in enacting the International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–173; 107 Stat. 1998; 18 U.S.C. 1204), Congress recognized the need to combat parental abduction by making the act of international parental kidnapping a Federal criminal offense; “(5) many of the extradition treaties to which the United States is a party specifically list the offenses that are extraditable and use the word ‘kidnapping’, but it has been the practice of the United States not to consider the term to include parental abduction because these treaties were negotiated by the United States prior to the development in United States criminal law described in paragraphs (3) and (4); “(6) the more modern extradition treaties to which the United States is a party contain dual criminality provisions, which provide for extradition where both parties make the offense a felony, and therefore it is the practice of the United States to consider such treaties to include parental abduction if the other foreign state party also considers the act of parental abduction to be a criminal offense; and “(7) this circumstance has resulted in a disparity in United States extradition law which should be rectified to better protect the interests of children and their parents. “SEC. 203. INTERPRETATION OF EXTRADITION TREATIES.“For purposes of any extradition treaty to which the United States is a party, Congress authorizes the interpretation of the terms ‘kidnaping’ and ‘kidnapping’ to include parental kidnapping.” Judicial Assistance to International Tribunal for Yugoslavia and International Tribunal for Rwanda Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XIII, § 1342, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 486, as amended by Pub. L. 111–117, div. F, title VII, § 7034(t), Dec. 16, 2009, 123 Stat. 3364, provided that: “(a) Surrender of Persons.—“(1) Application of united states extradition laws.—Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the provisions of chapter 209 of title 18, United States Code, relating to the extradition of persons to a foreign country pursuant to a treaty or convention for extradition between the United States and a foreign government, shall apply in the same manner and extent to the surrender of persons, including United States citizens, to—“(A) the International Tribunal for Yugoslavia, pursuant to the Agreement Between the United States and the International Tribunal for Yugoslavia; and “(B) the International Tribunal for Rwanda, pursuant to the Agreement Between the United States and the International Tribunal for Rwanda. “(2) Evidence on hearings.—For purposes of applying section 3190 of title 18, United States Code, in accordance with paragraph (1), the certification referred to in that section may be made by the principal diplomatic or consular officer of the United States resident in such foreign countries where the International Tribunal for Yugoslavia or the International Tribunal for Rwanda may be permanently or temporarily situated. “(3) Payment of fees and costs.—(A) The provisions of the Agreement Between the United States and the International Tribunal for Yugoslavia and of the Agreement Between the United States and the International Tribunal for Rwanda shall apply in lieu of the provisions of section 3195 of title 18, United States Code, with respect to the payment of expenses arising from the surrender by the United States of a person to the International Tribunal for Yugoslavia or the International Tribunal for Rwanda, respectively, or from any proceedings in the United States relating to such surrender. “(B) The authority of subparagraph (A) may be exercised only to the extent and in the amounts provided in advance in appropriations Acts. “(4) Nonapplicability of the federal rules.—The Federal Rules of Evidence [set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure [set out in the Appendix to this title] do not apply to proceedings for the surrender of persons to the International Tribunal for Yugoslavia or the International Tribunal for Rwanda. “(b) Assistance to Foreign and International Tribunals and to Litigants Before Such Tribunals.— [Amended section 1782 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.] “(c) Definitions.—For purposes of this section:“(1) International tribunal for yugoslavia.—The term ‘International Tribunal for Yugoslavia’ means the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia, as established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 827 of
May 25, 1993. “(2) International tribunal for rwanda.—The term ‘International Tribunal for Rwanda’ means the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighboring States, as established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 955 of
November 8, 1994. “(3) Agreement between the united states and the international tribunal for yugoslavia.—The term ‘Agreement Between the United States and the International Tribunal for Yugoslavia’ means the Agreement on Surrender of Persons Between the Government of the United States and the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Law in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia, signed at The Hague,
October 5, 1994, as amended. “(4) Agreement between the united states and the international tribunal for rwanda.—The term ‘Agreement between the United States and the International Tribunal for Rwanda’ means the Agreement on Surrender of Persons Between the Government of the United States and the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighboring States, signed at The Hague,
January 24, 1995.” Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties and Model Comprehensive Antidrug Laws Pub. L. 100–690, title IV, § 4605, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4290, which directed greater emphasis on updating of extradition treaties and on negotiating mutual legal assistance treaties with major drug producing and drug-transit countries, and called for development of model treaties and anti-narcotics legislation, was repealed by Pub. L. 102–583, § 6(e)(1), Nov. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 4933. Pub. L. 100–204, title VIII, § 803, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1397, provided that: “The Secretary of State shall ensure that the Country Plan for the United States diplomatic mission in each major illicit drug producing country and in each major drug-transit country (as those terms are defined in section 481(i) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [22 U.S.C. 2291(i)]) includes, as an objective to be pursued by the mission— “(1) negotiating an updated extradition treaty which ensures that drug traffickers can be extradited to the United States, or “(2) if an existing treaty provides for such extradition, taking such steps as may be necessary to ensure that the treaty is effectively implemented.” Pub. L. 99–93, title I, § 133, Aug. 16, 1985, 99 Stat. 420, provided that: “The Secretary of State, with the assistance of the National Drug
Enforcement
Policy Board, shall increase United States efforts to negotiate updated extradition treaties relating to narcotics offenses with each major drug-producing country, particularly those in Latin America.” — — — EXTRADITION AGREEMENTSThe United States currently has bilateral extradition agreements with the following countries: CountryDate signedEntered into forceCitation 1 Status of agreements with successor states of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia is under review; inquire of the Treaty Office of the United States Department of State. 2 Typographical error corrected by diplomatic notes exchanged Apr. 4 and 11, 1967. See 18 UST 382, 383. AlbaniaMar. 1, 1933Nov. 14, 193549 Stat. 3313. Antigua and Barbuda
June 3, 1996
July 1, 1999TIAS 99-701.1. Argentina
June 10, 1997
June 15, 2000TIAS 12866. AustraliaDec. 22, 1931Aug. 30, 193547 Stat. 2122.
May 14, 1974
May 8, 197627 UST 957. Sept. 4, 1990Dec. 21, 19921736 UNTS 344. AustriaJan. 8, 1998Jan. 1, 2000TIAS 12916.
July 20, 2005Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.2. BahamasMar. 9, 1990Sept. 22, 1994TIAS 94-922. BarbadosFeb. 28, 1996Mar. 3, 2000TIAS 00-303. BelgiumApr. 27, 1987Sept. 1, 1997TIAS 97-901. Dec. 16, 2004Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201. BelizeMar. 30, 2000Mar. 27, 2001TIAS 13089. Bolivia
June 27, 1995Nov. 21, 1996TIAS 96-112. BrazilJan. 13, 1961Dec. 17, 196415 UST 2093.
June 18, 1962Dec. 17, 196415 UST 2112. BulgariaMar. 19, 1924
June 24, 192443 Stat. 1886.
June 8, 1934Aug. 15, 193549 Stat. 3250. Sept. 19, 2007
May 21, 2009TIAS 09-521. BurmaDec. 22, 1931Nov. 1, 194147 Stat. 2122. CanadaDec. 3, 1971Mar. 22, 197627 UST 983. June 28,
July 9, 1974Mar. 22, 197627 UST 1017. Jan. 11, 1988Nov. 26, 19911853 UNTS 407. Jan. 12, 2001Apr. 30, 2003TIAS 03-430. ChileApr. 17, 1900
June 26, 190232 Stat. 1850. ColombiaSept. 14, 1979Mar. 4, 1982TIAS. Congo (Brazzaville)Jan. 6, 1909Jan. 15, 1929Apr. 23, 1936
July 27, 1911
May 19, 1929Sept. 24, 193637 Stat. 1526.46 Stat. 2276.50 Stat. 1117. Costa RicaDec. 4, 1982Oct. 11, 1991TIAS. CroatiaDec. 10, 2019Dec. 28, 2022TIAS 22-1228.1. CubaApr. 6, 1904Mar. 2, 190533 Stat. 2265. Dec. 6, 1904Mar. 2, 190533 Stat. 2273. Jan. 14, 1926
June 18, 192644 Stat. 2392. Cyprus
June 17, 1996Sept. 14, 1999TIAS 99-914. Jan. 20, 2006Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.4. Czech Republic 1
July 2, 1925Apr. 29, 1935Mar. 29, 1926Aug. 28, 193544 Stat. 2367.49 Stat. 3253.
May 16, 2006Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.5. Denmark
June 22, 1972
July 31, 197425 UST 1293.
June 23, 2005Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.6. DominicaOct. 10, 1996
May 25, 2000TIAS 00-525. Dominican Republic
June 19, 1909Aug. 2, 191036 Stat. 2468. Ecuador
June 28, 1872Nov. 12, 187318 Stat. 199. Sept. 22, 1939
May 29, 194155 Stat. 1196. EgyptAug. 11, 1874Apr. 22, 187519 Stat. 572. El SalvadorApr. 18, 1911
July 10, 191137 Stat. 1516. EstoniaNov. 8, 1923Nov. 15, 192443 Stat. 1849. Oct. 10, 1934
May 7, 193549 Stat. 3190. Feb. 8, 2006Apr. 7, 2009TIAS 09-407. European Union
June 25, 2003Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201. FijiDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122.
July 14, 1972, Aug. 17, 1973Aug. 17, 197324 UST 1965. Finland
June 11, 1976
May 11, 198031 UST 944. Dec. 16, 2004Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.7. FranceApr. 23, 1996Feb. 1, 2002TIAS 02-201. Sept. 30, 2004Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.8. GambiaDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. Germany
June 20, 1978Aug. 29, 198032 UST 1485. Oct. 21, 1986Mar. 11, 19931909 UNTS 441. Apr. 18, 2006Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.9 GhanaDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. Greece
May 6, 1931Nov. 1, 193247 Stat. 2185. Sept. 2, 1937Sept. 2, 193751 Stat. 357. Jan. 18, 2006Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.10. Grenada
May 30, 1996Sept. 14, 1999TIAS 99-914.1. GuatemalaFeb. 27, 1903Aug. 15, 190333 Stat. 2147. Feb. 20, 1940Mar. 13, 194155 Stat. 1097. GuyanaDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. HaitiAug. 9, 1904
June 28, 190534 Stat. 2858. HondurasJan. 15, 1909
July 10, 191237 Stat. 1616. Feb. 21, 1927
June 5, 192845 Stat. 2489. Hong KongDec. 20, 1996Jan. 21, 1998TIAS 98-121. HungaryDec. 1, 1994Mar. 18, 1997TIAS 97-318. Nov. 15, 2005Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.11. IcelandJan. 6, 1902
May 16, 190232 Stat. 1096. Nov. 6, 1905Feb. 19, 190634 Stat. 2887. India
June 25, 1997
July 21, 1999TIAS 12873. Iraq
June 7, 1934Apr. 23, 193649 Stat. 3380. Ireland
July 13, 1983Dec. 15, 1984TIAS 10813.
July 14, 2005Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.12. IsraelDec. 10, 1962Dec. 5, 196314 UST 1707.2
July 6, 2005Jan. 10, 2007TIAS 07-110. ItalyOct. 13, 1983Sept. 24, 198435 UST 3023.
May 3, 2006Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.13. Jamaica
June 14, 1983
July 7, 1991TIAS 91-707. JapanMar. 3, 1978Mar. 26, 198031 UST 892. JordanMar. 28, 1995
July 29, 1995TIAS. KenyaDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. May 14, Aug. 19, 1965Aug. 19, 196516 UST 1866. Kiribati
June 8, 1972Jan. 21, 197728 UST 227. KosovoMar. 29, 2016
June 13, 2019TIAS 19-613. LatviaOct. 16, 1923Mar. 1, 192443 Stat. 1738. Oct. 10, 1934Mar. 29, 193549 Stat. 3131. Dec. 7, 2005Apr. 15, 2009TIAS 09-415. LesothoDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. LiberiaNov. 1, 1937Nov. 21, 193954 Stat. 1733. Liechtenstein
May 20, 1936
June 28, 193750 Stat. 1337. LithuaniaOct. 23, 2001Mar. 31, 2003TIAS 13166.
June 15, 2005Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.14. LuxembourgOct. 1, 1996Feb. 1, 2002TIAS 12804. Feb. 1, 2005Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.15. MalawiDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. Dec. 17, 1966, Jan. 6, Apr. 4, 1967Apr. 4, 196718 UST 1822. MalaysiaAug. 3, 1995
June 2, 1997TIAS 97-602. MaltaDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122.
May 18, 2006
July 1, 2009TIAS 09-701. Marshall IslandsApr. 30, 2003
May 1, 2004TIAS 04-501.2. MauritiusDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. Mexico
May 4, 1978Jan. 25, 198031 UST 5059. Nov. 13, 1997
May 21, 2001TIAS 12897. Micronesia, Federated States of
May 14, 2003
June 25, 2004TIAS 04-625.4. MonacoFeb. 15, 1939Mar. 28, 194054 Stat. 1780. NauruDec. 22, 1931Aug. 30, 193547 Stat. 2122. Netherlands
June 24, 1980Sept. 15, 198335 UST 1334. Sept. 29, 2004Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.16. New ZealandJan. 12, 1970Dec. 8, 197022 UST 1. NicaraguaMar. 1, 1905
July 14, 190735 Stat. 1869. NigeriaDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. Norway
June 9, 1977Mar. 7, 198031 UST 5619. PakistanDec. 22, 1931Mar. 9, 194247 Stat. 2122. Panama
May 25, 1904
May 8, 190534 Stat. 2851. Papua New GuineaDec. 22, 1931Aug. 30, 193547 Stat. 2122. Feb. 2, 23, 1988Feb. 23, 1988TIAS. ParaguayNov. 9, 1998Mar. 9, 2001TIAS 12995. Peru
July 26, 2001Aug. 25, 2003TIAS 03-825. PhilippinesNov. 13, 1994Nov. 22, 1996TIAS 96-1122. Poland
July 10, 1996Sept. 17, 1999TIAS 99-917.
June 9, 2006Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.17. Portugal
May 7, 1908Nov. 14, 190835 Stat. 2071.
July 14, 2005Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.18. Romania
July 23, 1924Apr. 7, 192544 Stat. 2020. Nov. 10, 1936
July 27, 193750 Stat. 1349. Sept. 10, 2007
May 8, 2009TIAS 09-508. Saint Kitts and NevisSept. 18, 1996Feb. 23, 2000TIAS 12805. Saint LuciaApr. 18, 1996Feb. 2, 2000TIAS 00-202. Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesAug. 15, 1996Sept. 8, 1999TIAS 99-908. San MarinoJan. 10, 1906
July 8, 190835 Stat. 1971. Oct. 10, 1934
June 28, 193549 Stat. 3198. SerbiaAug. 15, 2016Apr. 23, 2019TIAS 19-423. SeychellesDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. Sierra LeoneDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. SingaporeDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. Apr. 23,
June 10, 1969
June 10, 196920 UST 2764. Slovakia 1
July 2, 1925Apr. 29, 1935Feb. 6, 2006Mar. 29, 1926Aug. 28, 1935Feb. 1, 201044 Stat. 2367.49 Stat. 3253.TIAS 10-201.19. Slovenia 1Oct. 17, 2005Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.20. Solomon Islands
June 8, 1972Jan. 21, 197728 UST 277. South AfricaSept. 16, 1999
June 25, 2001TIAS 13060. South Korea
June 9, 1998Dec. 20, 1999TIAS 12962. Spain
May 29, 1970
June 16, 197122 UST 737. Jan. 25, 1975
June 2, 197829 UST 2283. Feb. 9, 1988
July 2, 1993TIAS. Mar. 12, 1996
July 25, 1999TIAS. Dec. 17, 2004Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.21. Sri LankaSept. 30, 1999Jan. 12, 2001TIAS 13066. Suriname
June 2, 1887
July 11, 188926 Stat. 1481. Jan. 18, 1904Aug. 28, 190433 Stat. 2257. SwazilandDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. May 13,
July 28, 1970
July 28, 197021 UST 1930. SwedenOct. 24, 1961Dec. 3, 196314 UST 1845. Mar. 14, 1983Sept. 24, 198435 UST 2501. Dec. 16, 2004Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 10-201.22. SwitzerlandNov. 14, 1990Sept. 10, 1997TIAS 97-910. TanzaniaDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. Nov. 30, Dec. 6, 1965Dec. 6, 196516 UST 2066. ThailandDec. 14, 1983
May 17, 1991TIAS 91-517. TongaDec. 22, 1931Aug. 1, 196647 Stat. 2122. Mar. 14, Apr. 13, 1977Apr. 13, 197728 UST 5290. Trinidad and TobagoMar. 4, 1996Nov. 29, 1999TIAS 99-1129. Turkey
June 7, 1979Jan. 1, 198132 UST 3111. Tuvalu
June 8, 1972Jan. 21, 197728 UST 227. Apr. 25, 198032 UST 1310. United KingdomMar. 31, 2003Dec. 16, 2004Apr. 26, 2007Feb. 1, 2010TIAS 07-426.TIAS 10-201.23. UruguayApr. 6, 1973Apr. 11, 198435 UST 3197. VenezuelaJan. 19, 21, 1922Apr. 14, 192343 Stat. 1698. Yugoslavia 1Oct. 25, 1901
June 12, 190232 Stat. 1890. ZambiaDec. 22, 1931
June 24, 193547 Stat. 2122. Zimbabwe
July 25, 1997Apr. 26, 2000TIAS 00-426. Convention on ExtraditionThe United States is a party to the Multilateral Convention on Extradition signed at Montevideo on Dec. 26, 1933, entered into force for the United States on Jan. 25, 1935. 49 Stat. 3111. Other states which have become parties: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 3181
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73