Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§1653 Aliens as Pirates
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 81 — PIRACY AND PRIVATEERING › § 1653
Summary
A foreign citizen caught at sea attacking the United States or its ships, when a treaty calls those actions piracy, is treated as a pirate. They face life in prison.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1653
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, being a citizen or subject of any foreign state, is found and taken on the sea making war upon the United States, or cruising against the vessels and property thereof, or of the citizens of the same, contrary to the provisions of any treaty existing between the United States and the state of which the offender is a citizen or subject, when by such treaty such acts are declared to be piracy, is a pirate, and shall be imprisoned for life.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 496 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 305, 35 Stat. 1147.) Minor change was made in phraseology.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1653
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102