8 USC 1226 - Apprehension and detention of aliens

United States Code

USC most recently checked for updates: Jun 09, 2025

§ 1225a. Preinspection at foreign airports

§ 1226a. Mandatory detention of suspected terrorists; habeas corpus; judicial review

U.S. Code
Notes

§ 1226.

Apprehension and detention of aliens

(a)

Arrest, detention, and release

On a warrant issued by the Attorney General, an alien may be arrested and detained pending a decision on whether the alien is to be removed from the United States. Except as provided in subsection (c) and pending such decision, the Attorney General—

(1)

may continue to detain the arrested alien; and

(2)

may release the alien on—

(A)

bond of at least $1,500 with security approved by, and containing conditions prescribed by, the Attorney General; or

(B)

conditional parole; but

(3)

may not provide the alien with work authorization (including an “employment authorized” endorsement or other appropriate work permit), unless the alien is lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise would (without regard to removal proceedings) be provided such authorization.

(b)

Revocation of bond or parole

The Attorney General at any time may revoke a bond or parole authorized under subsection (a), rearrest the alien under the original warrant, and detain the alien.

(c)

Detention of criminal aliens

(1)

Custody

The Attorney General shall take into custody any alien who—

(A)

is inadmissible by reason of having committed any offense covered in section 1182(a)(2) of this title,

(B)

is deportable by reason of having committed any offense covered in section 1227(a)(2)(A)(ii), (A)(iii), (B), (C), or (D) of this title,

(C)

is deportable under section 1227(a)(2)(A)(i) of this title on the basis of an offense for which the alien has been sentence 1

 So in original. Probably should be “sentenced”.

to a term of imprisonment of at least 1 year,

(D)

is inadmissible under section 1182(a)(3)(B) of this title or deportable under section 1227(a)(4)(B) of this title, or

(E)

(i)

is inadmissible under paragraph (6)(A), (6)(C), or (7) of section 1182(a) of this title; and

(ii)

is charged with, is arrested for, is convicted of, admits having committed, or admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of any burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, or assault of a law enforcement officer offense, or any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person,

when the alien is released, without regard to whether the alien is released on parole, supervised release, or probation, and without regard to whether the alien may be arrested or imprisoned again for the same offense.

(2)

Definition

For purposes of paragraph (1)(E), the terms “burglary”, “theft”, “larceny”, “shoplifting”, “assault of a law enforcement officer”, and “serious bodily injury” have the meanings given such terms in the jurisdiction in which the acts occurred.

(3)

Detainer

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue a detainer for an alien described in paragraph (1)(E) and, if the alien is not otherwise detained by Federal, State, or local officials, shall effectively and expeditiously take custody of the alien.

(4)

Release

The Attorney General may release an alien described in paragraph (1) only if the Attorney General decides pursuant to section 3521 of title 18 that release of the alien from custody is necessary to provide protection to a witness, a potential witness, a person cooperating with an investigation into major criminal activity, or an immediate family member or close associate of a witness, potential witness, or person cooperating with such an investigation, and the alien satisfies the Attorney General that the alien will not pose a danger to the safety of other persons or of property and is likely to appear for any scheduled proceeding. A decision relating to such release shall take place in accordance with a procedure that considers the severity of the offense committed by the alien.

(d)

Identification of criminal aliens

(1)

The Attorney General shall devise and implement a system—

(A)

to make available, daily (on a 24-hour basis), to Federal, State, and local authorities the investigative resources of the Service to determine whether individuals arrested by such authorities for aggravated felonies are aliens;

(B)

to designate and train officers and employees of the Service to serve as a liaison to Federal, State, and local law enforcement and correctional agencies and courts with respect to the arrest, conviction, and release of any alien charged with an aggravated felony; and

(C)

which uses computer resources to maintain a current record of aliens who have been convicted of an aggravated felony, and indicates those who have been removed.

(2)

The record under paragraph (1)(C) shall be made available—

(A)

to inspectors at ports of entry and to border patrol agents at sector headquarters for purposes of immediate identification of any alien who was previously ordered removed and is seeking to reenter the United States, and

(B)

to officials of the Department of State for use in its automated visa lookout system.

(3)

Upon the request of the governor or chief executive officer of any State, the Service shall provide assistance to State courts in the identification of aliens unlawfully present in the United States pending criminal prosecution.

(e)

Judicial review

The Attorney General’s discretionary judgment regarding the application of this section shall not be subject to review. No court may set aside any action or decision by the Attorney General under this section regarding the detention of any alien or the revocation or denial of bond or parole.

(f)

Enforcement by attorney general of a State

The attorney general of a State, or other authorized State officer, alleging an action or decision by the Attorney General or Secretary of Homeland Security under this section to release any alien or grant bond or parole to any alien that harms such State or its residents shall have standing to bring an action against the Attorney General or 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 subsection to the greatest extent practicable. For purposes of this subsection, 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.

(June 27, 1952, ch. 477, title II, ch. 4, § 236, 66 Stat. 200; Pub. L. 101–649, title V, § 504(b), title VI, § 603(a)(12), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 5050, 5083; Pub. L. 102–232, title III, § 306(a)(5), Dec. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 1751; Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III, §§ 303(a), 371(b)(5), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–585, 3009–645; Pub. L. 119–1, §§ 2, 3(b), Jan. 29, 2025, 139 Stat. 3, 4.)

cite as: 8 USC 1226