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Title 8 — Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-73not60

§1260 Removal of Aliens Falling Into Distress

Title 8 › Chapter 12— IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY › Subchapter II— IMMIGRATION › Part V— Adjustment and Change of Status › § 1260

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General can send a noncitizen out of the United States if they become in trouble or need public help because of something that happened after they entered. The person can be returned to their native country, the country they came from, the country of their citizenship, or any other country that agrees to take them, and the cost is paid from money set aside for enforcing immigration laws. Someone removed this way cannot apply for a visa, travel papers, or admission to the United States again unless the Attorney General gives prior permission.

Full Legal Text

Title 8, §1260

Aliens and Nationality — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Attorney General may remove from the United States any alien who falls into distress or who needs public aid from causes arising subsequent to his entry, and is desirous of being so removed, to the native country of such alien, or to the country from which he came, or to the country of which he is a citizen or subject, or to any other country to which he wishes to go and which will receive him, at the expense of the appropriation for the enforcement of this chapter. Any alien so removed shall be ineligible to apply for or receive a visa or other documentation for readmission, or to apply for admission to the United States except with the prior approval of the Attorney General.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original, “this Act”, meaning act June 27, 1952, ch. 477, 66 Stat. 163, known as the Immigration and Nationality Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1101 of this title and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and

Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service,

Transfer of Functions

, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

8 U.S.C. § 1260

Title 8 — Aliens and Nationality

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60