Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73
§1994 Peonage abolished
Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 21— - CIVIL RIGHTS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERALLY › § 1994
Summary
Keeping someone as forced labor to pay a debt (called peonage) is permanently illegal in every U.S. state and territory. Any law or practice that allowed or tries to allow it is canceled.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §1994
The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The holding of any person to service or labor under the system known as peonage is abolished and forever prohibited in any Territory or State of the United States; and all acts, laws, resolutions, orders, regulations, or usages of any Territory or State, which have heretofore established, maintained, or enforced, or by virtue of which any attempt shall hereafter be made to establish, maintain, or enforce, directly or indirectly, the voluntary or involuntary service or labor of any persons as peons, in liquidation of any debt or obligation, or otherwise, are declared null and void.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification R.S. § 1990 derived from act Mar. 2, 1867, ch. 187, § 1, 14 Stat. 546. Section was formerly classified to section 56 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 1994
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73