Detention, release, and removal of aliens ordered removed
Removal period
In general
Except as otherwise provided in this section, when an alien is ordered removed, the Attorney General shall remove the alien from the United States within a period of 90 days (in this section referred to as the “removal period”).
Beginning of period
Suspension of period
The removal period shall be extended beyond a period of 90 days and the alien may remain in detention during such extended period if the alien fails or refuses to make timely application in good faith for travel or other documents necessary to the alien’s departure or conspires or acts to prevent the alien’s removal subject to an order of removal.
Detention
In general
During the removal period, the Attorney General shall detain the alien. Under no circumstance during the removal period shall the Attorney General release an alien who has been found inadmissible under section 1182(a)(2) or 1182(a)(3)(B) of this title or deportable under section 1227(a)(2) or 1227(a)(4)(B) of this title.
Enforcement by attorney general of a State
The attorney general of a State, or other authorized State officer, alleging a violation of the detention requirement under subparagraph (A) that harms such State or its residents shall have standing to bring an action against the Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of such State or the residents of such State in an appropriate district court of the United States to obtain appropriate injunctive relief. The court shall advance on the docket and expedite the disposition of a civil action filed under this subparagraph to the greatest extent practicable. For purposes of this subparagraph, a State or its residents shall be considered to have been harmed if the State or its residents experience harm, including financial harm in excess of $100.
Supervision after 90-day period
Aliens imprisoned, arrested, or on parole, supervised release, or probation
In general
1
Exception for removal of nonviolent offenders prior to completion of sentence of imprisonment
Notice
Any alien removed pursuant to this paragraph shall be notified of the penalties under the laws of the United States relating to the reentry of deported aliens, particularly the expanded penalties for aliens removed under subparagraph (B).
No private right
No cause or claim may be asserted under this paragraph against any official of the United States or of any State to compel the release, removal, or consideration for release or removal of any alien.
Reinstatement of removal orders against aliens illegally reentering
If the Attorney General finds that an alien has reentered the United States illegally after having been removed or having departed voluntarily, under an order of removal, the prior order of removal is reinstated from its original date and is not subject to being reopened or reviewed, the alien is not eligible and may not apply for any relief under this chapter, and the alien shall be removed under the prior order at any time after the reentry.
Inadmissible or criminal aliens
section 1182 of this titleAn alien ordered removed who is inadmissible under , removable under section 1227(a)(1)(C), 1227(a)(2), or 1227(a)(4) of this title or who has been determined by the Attorney General to be a risk to the community or unlikely to comply with the order of removal, may be detained beyond the removal period and, if released, shall be subject to the terms of supervision in paragraph (3).
Employment authorization
Countries to which aliens may be removed
Aliens arriving at the United States
In general
section 1229a of this titleExcept as provided by subparagraphs (B) and (C), an alien who arrives at the United States and with respect to whom proceedings under were initiated at the time of such alien’s arrival shall be removed to the country in which the alien boarded the vessel or aircraft on which the alien arrived in the United States.
Travel from contiguous territory
If the alien boarded the vessel or aircraft on which the alien arrived in the United States in a foreign territory contiguous to the United States, an island adjacent to the United States, or an island adjacent to a foreign territory contiguous to the United States, and the alien is not a native, citizen, subject, or national of, or does not reside in, the territory or island, removal shall be to the country in which the alien boarded the vessel that transported the alien to the territory or island.
Alternative countries
Other aliens
Selection of country by alien
Limitation on designation
An alien may designate under subparagraph (A)(i) a foreign territory contiguous to the United States, an adjacent island, or an island adjacent to a foreign territory contiguous to the United States as the place to which the alien is to be removed only if the alien is a native, citizen, subject, or national of, or has resided in, that designated territory or island.
Disregarding designation
Alternative country
Additional removal countries
Removal country when United States is at war
Restriction on removal to a country where alien’s life or freedom would be threatened
In general
Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the Attorney General may not remove an alien to a country if the Attorney General decides that the alien’s life or freedom would be threatened in that country because of the alien’s race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
Exception
Sustaining burden of proof; credibility determinations
section 1158(b)(1)(B) of this titleIn determining whether an alien has demonstrated that the alien’s life or freedom would be threatened for a reason described in subparagraph (A), the trier of fact shall determine whether the alien has sustained the alien’s burden of proof, and shall make credibility determinations, in the manner described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of .
Removal of aliens arriving at port of entry
Vessels and aircraft
Stay of removal
In general
Payment of detention costs
Release during stay
Costs of detention and maintenance pending removal
In general
Nonapplication
Requirements of persons providing transportation
Removal at time of arrival
Alien stowaways
Removal upon order
An owner, agent, master, commanding officer, person in charge, purser, or consignee of a vessel, aircraft, or other transportation line shall comply with an order of the Attorney General to take on board, guard safely, and transport to the destination specified any alien ordered to be removed under this chapter.
Payment of expenses of removal
Costs of removal at time of arrival
Costs of removal to port of removal for aliens admitted or permitted to land
In the case of an alien who has been admitted or permitted to land and is ordered removed, the cost (if any) of removal of the alien to the port of removal shall be at the expense of the appropriation for the enforcement of this chapter.
Costs of removal from port of removal for aliens admitted or permitted to land
Through appropriation
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in the case of an alien who has been admitted or permitted to land and is ordered removed, the cost (if any) of removal of the alien from the port of removal shall be at the expense of the appropriation for the enforcement of this chapter.
Through owner
In general
In the case of an alien described in clause (ii), the cost of removal of the alien from the port of removal may be charged to any owner of the vessel, aircraft, or other transportation line by which the alien came to the United States.
Aliens described
Costs of removal of certain aliens granted voluntary departure
section 1229c of this titleIn the case of an alien who has been granted voluntary departure under and who is financially unable to depart at the alien’s own expense and whose removal the Attorney General deems to be in the best interest of the United States, the expense of such removal may be paid from the appropriation for the enforcement of this chapter.
Aliens requiring personal care during removal
In general
If the Attorney General believes that an alien being removed requires personal care because of the alien’s mental or physical condition, the Attorney General may employ a suitable person for that purpose who shall accompany and care for the alien until the alien arrives at the final destination.
Costs
The costs of providing the service described in paragraph (1) shall be defrayed in the same manner as the expense of removing the accompanied alien is defrayed under this section.
Places of detention
In general
section 6101 of title 41The Attorney General shall arrange for appropriate places of detention for aliens detained pending removal or a decision on removal. When United States Government facilities are unavailable or facilities adapted or suitably located for detention are unavailable for rental, the Attorney General may expend from the appropriation “Immigration and Naturalization Service—Salaries and Expenses”, without regard to , amounts necessary to acquire land and to acquire, build, remodel, repair, and operate facilities (including living quarters for immigration officers if not otherwise available) necessary for detention.
Detention facilities of the Immigration and Naturalization Service
Prior to initiating any project for the construction of any new detention facility for the Service, the Commissioner shall consider the availability for purchase or lease of any existing prison, jail, detention center, or other comparable facility suitable for such use.
Statutory construction
Nothing in this section shall be construed to create any substantive or procedural right or benefit that is legally enforceable by any party against the United States or its agencies or officers or any other person.
Incarceration
June 27, 1952, ch. 477Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III110 Stat. 3009–598Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11014116 Stat. 1824Pub. L. 109–13, div. B, title I, § 101(c)119 Stat. 303Pub. L. 109–162, title XI, § 1196(a)119 Stat. 3130Pub. L. 119–1, § 3(e)139 Stat. 5(, title II, ch. 4, § 241, as added and amended , §§ 305(a)(3), 306(a)(1), 328(a)(1), , , 3009–607, 3009–630; , , ; , , ; , (b), , ; , , .)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 259 of title 42Pub. L. 106–310, div. B, title XXXIV, § 3405(a)114 Stat. 1221, referred to in subsec. (a)(4)(A), was repealed by , , .
act June 27, 1952, ch. 47766 Stat. 163section 1101 of this titleThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(4)(B), (5), (d)(3), and (e)(2), (3)(A), (C), was in the original, “this Act”, meaning , , 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 and Tables.
Codification
section 6101 of title 4141 U.S.C. 5Pub. L. 111–350, § 6(c)124 Stat. 3854In subsec. (g)(1), “” substituted for “section 3709 of the Revised Statutes ()” on authority of , , , which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts.
section 1252 of this titlePub. L. 104–208, § 306(a)(1)act June 27, 1952, ch. 477, title IIPub. L. 103–322, title II, § 20301(a)108 Stat. 1823The text of subsec. (j) of , which was redesignated as subsec. (i) of this section by , was based on section 242(j) of , ch. 5, as added , , .
Prior Provisions
section 1227 of this titleA prior section 241 of act , was renumbered section 237, and is classified to .
Amendments
Pub. L. 119–12025—Subsec. (a)(2). designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted heading, and added subpar. (B).
Pub. L. 109–162, § 1196(a)2006—Subsec. (i)(5). , substituted “appropriated to carry out this subsection—” for “appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection in fiscal years 2003 and 2004.” and added subpars. (A) to (C).
Pub. L. 109–162, § 1196(b)Subsec. (i)(6). , amended par. (6) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (6) read as follows: “To the extent of available appropriations, funds otherwise made available under this section with respect to a State (or political subdivision, including a municipality) for incarceration of an undocumented criminal alien may, at the discretion of the recipient of the funds, be used for the costs of imprisonment of such alien in a State, local, or municipal prison or jail.”
Pub. L. 109–132005—Subsec. (b)(3)(C). added subpar. (C).
Pub. L. 107–2732002—Subsec. (i)(5). substituted “in fiscal years 2003 and 2004” for provisions which authorized specified amounts to be appropriated from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund for fiscal years 1995 to 2002 as set out in subpars. (A) to (F).
Pub. L. 104–208, § 306(a)(1)section 1252 of this title1996—Subsec. (i). , redesignated subsec. (j) of as subsec. (i) of this section. See Codification note above.
Pub. L. 104–208, § 328(a)(1)(A)Subsec. (i)(3)(A). , substituted “felony or two or more misdemeanors” for “felony and sentenced to a term of imprisonment”.
Pub. L. 104–208, § 328(a)(1)(B)Subsec. (i)(6). , added par. (6).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
Pub. L. 109–162, title XI, § 1196(d)Pub. L. 109–271, § 8(n)(6)120 Stat. 768
Effective Date of 2005 Amendment
Pub. L. 109–13section 101(h)(2) of Pub. L. 109–13section 1158 of this titleAmendment by effective , and applicable to applications for asylum, withholding, or other relief from removal made on or after such date, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
section 306(a)(1) of Pub. L. 104–208section 309 of Pub. L. 104–208section 306(c) of Pub. L. 104–208section 1252 of this titleAmendment by applicable as provided under (see Effective Date note below), see , as amended, set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III, § 328(a)(2)110 Stat. 3009–630
Effective Date
section 309 of Pub. L. 104–208section 1101 of this titleSection effective, with certain transitional provisions, on the first day of the first month beginning more than 180 days after , see , set out as an Effective Date of 1996 Amendments note under .
Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and Transfer of Functions
section 1551 of this titleFor abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service, transfer of functions, and treatment of related references, see note set out under .
United States Policy With Respect to Involuntary Return of Persons in Danger of Subjection to Torture
Pub. L. 105–277, div. G112 Stat. 2681–822
Policy .—
Regulations .—
Exclusion of Certain Aliens .—
Review and Construction .—
Authority To Detain .—
Definitions.—
Convention defined .—
Same terms as in the convention .—
References to Order of Removal Deemed To Include Order of Exclusion and Deportation
section 309(d)(2) of Pub. L. 104–208section 1101 of this titleFor purposes of carrying out this chapter, any reference in law to an order of removal is deemed to include a reference to an order of exclusion and deportation or an order of deportation, see , set out in an Effective Date of 1996 Amendments note under .
Pilot Program on Use of Closed Military Bases for Detention of Inadmissible or Deportable Aliens
Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III, § 387110 Stat. 3009–655
Establishment .—
Report .—
Definition .—
Interior Repatriation Program
Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III, § 388110 Stat. 3009–655
Pub. L. 104–132, title IV, § 437110 Stat. 1275
Termination of Limitation
Pub. L. 103–322, title II, § 20301(c)108 Stat. 1824Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III, § 308(g)(5)(G)110 Stat. 3009–623Pub. L. 109–162, title XI, § 1172(c)119 Stat. 3123, , , as amended by , , , provided that notwithstanding subsec. (h)(5) [(i)(5)] of this section the requirements of subsec. (h) [i] of this section were not to be subject to the availability of appropriations on and after , prior to repeal by , , .