Title 50, War and National DefenseRelease 119-102
§220 Enforcement of Section 219
Title 50 › CHAPTER 13 — INSURRECTION › § 220
Summary
You may not take a ship or its cargo that customs is holding unless a federal court allows it. If a force too strong for customs officers tries to take it, the President or someone he allows may use the Army, Navy, militia, or citizen volunteers to stop them and protect the officers.
Full Legal Text
Title 50, §220
War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
It shall be unlawful to take any vessel or cargo detained under section 219 of this title from the custody of the proper officers of the customs, unless by process of some court of the United States; and in case of any attempt otherwise to take such vessel or cargo by any force, or combination, or assemblage of persons, too great to be overcome by the officers of the customs, the President, or such person as he shall have empowered for that purpose, may employ such part of the Army or Navy or militia of the United States, or such force of citizen volunteers as may be necessary, to prevent the removal of such vessel or cargo, and to protect the officers of the customs in retaining the custody thereof.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification R.S. § 5316 derived from act July 12, 1861, ch. 3, § 3, 12 Stat. 256.
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
All offices of collector of customs, comptroller of customs, surveyor of customs, and appraiser of merchandise of Bureau of Customs of Department of the Treasury to which appointments were required to be made by President with advice and consent of Senate ordered abolished, with such offices to be terminated not later than Dec. 31, 1966, by Reorg. Plan No. 1, of 1965, eff.
May 25, 1965, 30 F.R. 7035, 79 Stat. 1317, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. All functions of offices eliminated were already vested in Secretary of the Treasury by Reorg. Plan No. 26 of 1950, eff.
July 31, 1950, 15 F.R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, set out in the Appendix to Title 5.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
50 U.S.C. § 220
Title 50, War and National Defense
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102