8 U.S.C. § 1102
Section 1102 · Diplomatic and semidiplomatic immunities
This is § 102 of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (McCarran-Walter)
Amended 5 times on record
Applied in 17 court decisions — leading case United States v. Parking (1954)
Most recently applied in Hernan Flores v. William Barr (September 2020)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, for so long as they continue in the nonimmigrant classes enumerated in this section, the provisions of this chapter relating to ineligibility to receive visas and the removal of aliens shall not be construed to apply to nonimmigrants—
(1) within the class described in paragraph (15)(A)(i) of section 1101(a) of this title, except those provisions relating to reasonable requirements of passports and visas as a means of identification and documentation necessary to establish their qualifications under such paragraph (15)(A)(i), and, under such rules and regulations as the President may deem to be necessary, the provisions of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of section 1182(a)(3) of this title;
(2) within the class described in paragraph (15)(G)(i) of section 1101(a) of this title, except those provisions relating to reasonable requirements of passports and visas as a means of identification and documentation necessary to establish their qualifications under such paragraph (15)(G)(i), and the provisions of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of section 1182(a)(3) of this title; and
(3) within the classes described in paragraphs (15)(A)(ii), (15)(G)(ii), (15)(G)(iii), or (15)(G)(iv) of section 1101(a) of this title, except those provisions relating to reasonable requirements of passports and visas as a means of identification and documentation necessary to establish their qualifications under such paragraphs, and the provisions of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of section 1182(a)(3) of this title.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Amendments
1996—Pub. L. 104–208 substituted “removal” for “exclusion or deportation” in introductory provisions.
1991—Pars. (1) to (3). Pub. L. 102–232 substituted “subparagraphs (A) through (C) of section 1182(a)(3) of this title” for “paragraph (3) (other than subparagraph (E)) of section 1182(a) of this title”.
1990—Pars. (1) to (3). Pub. L. 101–649 substituted “(3) (other than subparagraph (E))” for “(27)” in pars. (1) and (2), and “paragraph (3) (other than subparagraph (E))” for “paragraphs (27) and (29)” in par. (3).
1988—Par. (2). Pub. L. 100–525 substituted “documentation” for “documentaion”.
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 104–208 effective, with certain transitional provisions, on the first day of the first month beginning more than 180 days after Sept. 30, 1996, see section 309 of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Effective Date of 1991 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 102–232 effective as if included in the enactment of the Immigration Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101–649, see section 310(1) of Pub. L. 102–232, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 101–649 applicable to individuals entering United States on or after June 1, 1991, see section 601(e)(1) of Pub. L. 101–649, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Denial of Visas to Certain Representatives to United Nations
Pub. L. 101–246, title IV, §407, Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 67, provided that:
“(a) In General.—The President shall use his authority, including the authorities contained in section 6 of the United Nations Headquarters Agreement Act (Public Law 80–357) [Aug. 4, 1947, ch. 482, set out as a note under 22 U.S.C. 287], to deny any individual's admission to the United States as a representative to the United Nations if the President determines that such individual has been found to have been engaged in espionage activities directed against the United States or its allies and may pose a threat to United States national security interests.
“(b) Waiver.—The President may waive the provisions of subsection (a) if the President determines, and so notifies the Congress, that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States.”
Cross References
All cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls—
Judicial power as extending to, see Const. Art. III, §2, cl. 1.
Supreme Court as having original jurisdiction in, see Const. Art. III, §2, cl. 2.
Definition of alien, immigrant visa, nonimmigrant alien, nonimmigrant visa, and passport, see section 1101 of this title.
International organizations, privileges, exemptions, and immunities of officers, employees, and their families, see section 288d of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.
Original and exclusive jurisdiction of district courts of all actions and proceedings against consuls or vice consuls of foreign states, see section 1351 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
Original but not exclusive jurisdiction of Supreme Court of all actions or proceedings brought by ambassadors or other public ministers of foreign states or to which consuls or vice consuls of foreign states are parties, see section 1251 of Title 28.