WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 8, Aliens and Nationality › Chapter 12

8 U.S.C. 1253: Penalties related to removal

Created in 1965 by Public Law 89-236. Changed by 6 later laws. 1 bill in this Congress would change it; 1 new law this Congress changed it.

7 other sections of the Code cite this one, including 8 U.S.C. 1252, 8 U.S.C. 1324d, 8 U.S.C. 1612, 8 U.S.C. 1613, 8 U.S.C. 1622.

6 parts of federal rules cite it as their authority, written by Department of Homeland Security (3), Executive Office for Immigration Review, Department of Justice (2), Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Secretary (1).

This Congress

  • S. 5 Laken Riley Act · became law · changed (e)
  • H.R. 29 Laken Riley Act · passed house · would change (e)

How it got here

1996

  • Pub. L. 104–208 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section consisted of subsecs. (a) to (h) relating to countries to which aliens were to be deported. (Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act) Law text
  • Pub. L. 104–132, §413(a), inserted at end "For purposes of subparagraph (D), an alien who is described in section 1251(a)(4)(B) of this title shall be considered to be an alien for whom there are reasonable grounds for regarding as a danger to the security of the United States." (Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996) Law text · (h)
  • Pub. L. 104–132, §413(f), added par. (3) which read as follows: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, paragraph (1) shall apply to any alien if the Attorney General determines, in the discretion of the Attorney General, that— (Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996) Law text · (h)

1990

  • Pub. L. 101–649, §603(b)(3), substituted "1251(a)(4)(D)" for "1251(a)(19)". · (h)
  • Pub. L. 101–649, §515(a)(2), inserted sentence at end relating to aliens who have been convicted of aggravated felonies. · (h)

1981

  • Pub. L. 97–116 inserted a comma after "subject" in fourth sentence. · (a)

1980

  • Pub. L. 96–212 substituted provisions relating to deportation or return of an alien where the Attorney General determines that the return would threaten the life or freedom of the alien on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opi… · (h)

1978

  • Pub. L. 95–549 inserted "(other than an alien described in section 1251(a) of this title)" before "within the United States". · (h)

1965

  • Pub. L. 89–236 substituted "persecution on account of race, religion, or political opinion" for "physical persecution". · (h)

Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.