Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§1588 Transportation of Slaves From United States
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 77 — PEONAGE, SLAVERY, AND TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS › § 1588
Summary
Boat owners or captains who move someone within the U.S. to be held or sold as a slave face a fine, up to 10 years in prison, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1588
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, being the master or owner or person having charge of any vessel, receives on board any other person with the knowledge or intent that such person is to be carried from any place within the United States to any other place to be held or sold as a slave, or carries away from any place within the United States any such person with the intent that he may be so held or sold as a slave, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 428 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 253, 35 Stat. 1139). Words “subject to the jurisdiction of” which appeared twice in this section were omitted and “within” substituted, in view of section 5 of this title defining “United States”.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Pub. L. 104–208 substituted “10 years” for “five years”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–208 applicable with respect to offenses occurring on or after Sept. 30, 1996, see section 218(d) of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1581 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1588
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102