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18 U.S.C. § 1653

U.S. CodeFederalPositive Law
Aliens as pirates
About This Law
/us/usc/t18/s1653
Title
18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Chapter
PTI/CH81
Release
119-84
Release Date
2026-04-17

Section Text

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Whoever, being a citizen or subject of any foreign state, is found and taken on the sea making war upon the United States, or cruising against the vessels and property thereof, or of the citizens of the same, contrary to the provisions of any treaty existing between the United States and the state of which the offender is a citizen or subject, when by such treaty such acts are declared to be piracy, is a pirate, and shall be imprisoned for life. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 774.) Historical and Revision NotesBased on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 496 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 305, 35 Stat. 1147.) Minor change was made in phraseology.

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