§970 — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

It is a crime to willfully damage or try to damage property in the United States that belongs to, is used by, or is occupied by a foreign government, an international organization, a foreign official, or an official guest. The punishment can be a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. It is also illegal, if done to intimidate, coerce, threaten, or harass, to force any part of your body or an object into parts of a U.S. building used for official, diplomatic, consular, or residential purposes by those parties, or to refuse to leave after being asked by an authorized employee, the official or guest (or their staff), or a law enforcement officer. The listed terms have the meanings given in section 1116(b).

Title 18, §970

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whoever willfully injures, damages, or destroys, or attempts to injure, damage, or destroy, any property, real or personal, located within the United States and belonging to or utilized or occupied by any foreign government or international organization, by a foreign official or official guest, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(b)Whoever, willfully with intent to intimidate, coerce, threaten, or harass—

(1)forcibly thrusts any part of himself or any object within or upon that portion of any building or premises located within the United States, which portion is used or occupied for official business or for diplomatic, consular, or residential purposes by—

(A)a foreign government, including such use as a mission to an international organization;

(B)an international organization;

(C)a foreign official; or

(D)an official guest; or

(2)refuses to depart from such portion of such building or premises after a request—

(A)by an employee of a foreign government or of an international organization, if such employee is authorized to make such request by the senior official of the unit of such government or organization which occupies such portion of such building or premises;

(B)by a foreign official or any member of the foreign official’s staff who is authorized by the foreign official to make such request;

(C)by an official guest or any member of the official guest’s staff who is authorized by the official guest to make such request; or

(D)by any person present having law enforcement powers;

(c)For the purpose of this section “foreign government”, “foreign official”, “international organization”, and “official guest” shall have the same meanings as those provided in section 1116(b) of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–294 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500” in concluding provisions. 1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”. 1976—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 94–467 added subsec. (b), redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c), and struck out reference to section 1116(c) of this title.

§970 Protection of Property Occupied by Foreign Governments

Summary

Title 18, §970

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata