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Title 8, Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-102

§1287 Alien Crewmen Brought Into the United States with Intent to Evade Immigration Laws; Penalties

Title 8 › CHAPTER 12 — IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY › SUBCHAPTER II — IMMIGRATION › Part VI — Special Provisions Relating to Alien Crewmen › § 1287

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Makes anyone tied to a ship or plane—like the owner, agent, consignee, master, or commanding officer—responsible if they knowingly sign on or bring a noncitizen as crew to help that person enter or land in the United States unlawfully, or if they lie to a consular or immigration officer that the person is a real crew member needed to operate the vessel or aircraft. The person (and the vessel or aircraft) can be fined up to $10,000 for each violation, and the vessel or aircraft can be seized and the government can sue in federal court.

Full Legal Text

Title 8, §1287

Aliens and Nationality, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Any person, including the owner, agent, consignee, master, or commanding officer of any vessel or aircraft arriving in the United States from any place outside thereof, who shall knowingly sign on the vessel’s articles, or bring to the United States as one of the crew of such vessel or aircraft, any alien, with intent to permit or assist such alien to enter or land in the United States in violation of law, or who shall falsely and knowingly represent to a consular officer at the time of application for visa, or to the immigration officer at the port of arrival in the United States, that such alien is a bona fide member of the crew employed in any capacity regularly required for normal operation and services aboard such vessel or aircraft, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding $10,000 for each such violation, for which sum such vessel or aircraft shall be liable and may be seized and proceeded against by way of libel in any district court of the United States having jurisdiction of the offense.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1990—Pub. L. 101–649 substituted “$10,000” for “$5,000”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1990 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–649 applicable to actions taken after Nov. 29, 1990, see section 543(c) of Pub. L. 101–649, set out as a note under section 1221 of this title. 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. § 1287

Title 8, Aliens and Nationality

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102