PRIA Logo™
Take the PRIA Score
Title 8 — Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-73

§1224 Designation of ports of entry for aliens arriving by aircraft

Title 8 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - IMMIGRATION › Part Part IV— - Inspection, Apprehension, Examination, Exclusion, and Removal › § 1224

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General may name any lawfully recognized civil-aviation landing place as an official port of entry for aliens arriving by airplane. He may also make rules that require aircraft to give advance notice or a landing notice when needed to run and enforce the immigration rules, and he can apply the chapter’s rules to civil air travel where not already spelled out. Breaking those rules can bring a civil fine of $2,000. The Attorney General can reduce or cancel the fine under procedures he creates, and his decision is final. If the owner or pilot is responsible, the fine becomes a lien on the aircraft. The plane can be sued or seized, and it may be freed if up to $2,000 is deposited or a bond with sureties is posted as the Attorney General requires.

Full Legal Text

Title 8, §1224

Aliens and Nationality — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Attorney General is authorized (1) by regulation to designate as ports of entry for aliens arriving by aircraft any of the ports of entry for civil aircraft designated as such in accordance with law; (2) by regulation to provide such reasonable requirements for aircraft in civil air navigation with respect to giving notice of intention to land in advance of landing, or notice of landing, as shall be deemed necessary for purposes of administration and enforcement of this chapter; and (3) by regulation to provide for the application to civil air navigation of the provisions of this chapter where not expressly so provided in this chapter to such extent and upon such conditions as he deems necessary. Any person who violates any regulation made under this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of $2,000 which may be remitted or mitigated by the Attorney General in accordance with such proceedings as the Attorney General shall by regulation prescribe. In case the violation is by the owner or person in command of the aircraft, the penalty shall be a lien upon the aircraft, and such aircraft may be libeled therefore in the appropriate United States court. The determination by the Attorney General and remission or mitigation of the civil penalty shall be final. In case the violation is by the owner or person in command of the aircraft, the penalty shall be a lien upon the aircraft and may be collected by proceedings in rem which shall conform as nearly as may be to civil suits in admiralty. The Supreme Court of the United States, and under its direction other courts of the United States, are authorized to prescribe rules regulating such proceedings against aircraft in any particular not otherwise provided by law. Any aircraft made subject to a lien by this section may be summarily seized by, and placed in the custody of such persons as the Attorney General may by regulation prescribe. The aircraft may be released from such custody upon deposit of such amount not exceeding $2,000 as the Attorney General may prescribe, or of a bond in such sum and with such sureties as the Attorney General may prescribe, conditioned upon the payment of the penalty which may be finally determined by the Attorney General.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original, “this Act”, meaning act June 27, 1952, ch. 477, 66 Stat. 163, known as the Immigration and Nationality Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1101 of this title and Tables. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 1229 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 104–208.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1224, act
June 27, 1952, ch. 477, title II, ch. 4, § 234, 66 Stat. 198, as amended, which related to physical and mental examinations, was renumbered section 232(b) of act
June 27, 1952, by Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III, § 308(b)(3), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–615, and was transferred to section 1222(b) of this title.

Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–232 made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 101–649. See 1990 Amendment note below. 1990—Pub. L. 101–649, as amended by Pub. L. 102–232, substituted “$2,000” for “$500” in two places.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1991 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 102–232 effective as if included in the enactment of the Immigration Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101–649, see section 310(1) of Pub. L. 102–232, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1990 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–649 applicable to actions taken after Nov. 29, 1990, see section 543(c) of Pub. L. 101–649, set out as a note under section 1221 of this title. Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and

Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service,

Transfer of Functions

, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

8 U.S.C. § 1224

Title 8 — Aliens and Nationality

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73