18 U.S.C. § 2421
Section 2421 · Transportation generally
Amended 1 time on record
Applied in 623 court decisions — leading case Miranda v. State of Arizona Vignera (1966)
Most recently applied in Tandon v. Illinois State Police (March 2025)
Applied most in the Ninth Circuit Circuit (65 decisions)
Cases citing this section usually also cite 18 U.S.C. § 2423 · 18 U.S.C. § 371 · 18 U.S.C. § 1952
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.
Whoever knowingly transports any individual in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, with intent that such individual engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
The Attorney General shall grant a request by a State attorney general that a State or local attorney be cross designated to prosecute a violation of this section unless the Attorney General determines that granting the request would undermine the administration of justice.
If the Attorney General denies a request under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall submit to the State attorney general a detailed reason for the denial not later than 60 days after the date on which a request is received.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Prior Provisions
A prior section 2421, act June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 812; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 47, 63 Stat. 96; Pub. L. 99–628, § 5(b)(1), Nov. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 3511; Pub. L. 105–314, title I, § 106, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2977, related to transportation of individuals generally, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 114–22, title III, § 303, May 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 255.)