PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The President can close a port of entry in a customs district if he finds that import duties cannot be collected in the usual ways because of an obstruction named in another law, and must announce the closure by proclamation. While the port is closed, all import rights, warehousing, and other port privileges stop until the President reopens it. Any vessel from outside the United States, or carrying goods that owe duty, that tries to enter a closed port will be seized and forfeited along with its gear and cargo.

Title 50, §221

War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whenever, in any collection district, the duties on imports can not, in the judgment of the President, be collected in the ordinary way, nor in the manner provided by sections 218 to 220 of this title, by reason of the cause mentioned in section 218 of this title, the President may close the port of entry in that district; and shall in such case give notice thereof by proclamation. And thereupon all right of importation, warehousing, and other privileges incident to ports of entry shall cease and be discontinued at such port so closed until it is opened by the order of the President on the cessation of such obstructions. Every vessel from beyond the United States, or having on board any merchandise liable to duty, which attempts to enter any port which has been closed under this section, shall, with her tackle, apparel, furniture, and cargo, be forfeited.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 218 of this title, referred to in text, was repealed by Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 632. Codification R.S. § 5317 derived from act July 12, 1861, ch. 3, § 4, 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.

§221 Closing Ports of Entry; Forfeiture of Vessels Seeking to Enter Closed Port