Title 8 — Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-73
§1260 Removal of aliens falling into distress
Title 8 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - IMMIGRATION › Part Part V— - Adjustment and Change of Status › § 1260
Summary
The Attorney General may send a noncitizen who becomes needy or needs public aid after entering the United States back to their home country, the country they came from, their country of citizenship, or any country that will accept them, at government expense; anyone removed cannot apply for a visa or to enter the United States again without the Attorney General’s prior approval.
Full Legal Text
Title 8, §1260
Aliens and Nationality — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Attorney General may remove from the United States any alien who falls into distress or who needs public aid from causes arising subsequent to his entry, and is desirous of being so removed, to the native country of such alien, or to the country from which he came, or to the country of which he is a citizen or subject, or to any other country to which he wishes to go and which will receive him, at the expense of the appropriation for the enforcement of this chapter. Any alien so removed shall be ineligible to apply for or receive a visa or other documentation for readmission, or to apply for admission to the United States except with the prior approval of 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.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
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. § 1260
Title 8 — Aliens and Nationality
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73