§970 Protection of property occupied by foreign governments

Summary

Damaging, destroying, or trying to damage or destroy any property in the United States that is owned, used, or lived in by a foreign government, an international organization, a foreign official, or an official guest is a crime. A person convicted can be fined, imprisoned for up to five years, or both. It is also a crime, when done on purpose to intimidate, coerce, threaten, or harass, to thrust part of your body or an object into the part of a building used by those foreign entities, or to refuse to leave after being asked by an authorized employee, the foreign official or their staff, an official guest or their staff, or someone with law enforcement power. Terms used: foreign government — another country’s government; foreign official — someone acting for that government; international organization — a group made up of countries; official guest — a visitor with an official role.