# Can the Special Counsel keep the President in the Country? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 14, 2018, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-special-counsel-keep-the-president-in-the-country/812388 "2018-04-14T06:48:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-special-counsel-keep-the-president-in-the-country/812388/21 "2018-04-18T15:57:48Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Sorry - I Did not realize he had his own police to arrest people. Yeah…he is leading a team of FBI agents in an investigation. The FBI [has the authority to arrest people.](https://www.fbi.gov/about/faqs/what-authority-do-fbi-special-agents-have-to-make-arrests-in-the-united-states-its-territories-or-on-foreign-soil) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-special-counsel-keep-the-president-in-the-country/812388/22 "2018-04-18T21:14:05Z")
The IRS can seize passports!! Kind of but not really and I think the way the law is written answers md2000’s question. > [@](#): > > Specifically, IRC Section 7345 provides that except in humanitarian or emergency situations, or for individuals serving in a combat zone, on receiving a certification from Treasury, the Secretary of State shall not issue a passport to any individual who has a seriously delinquent tax debt described in such section. [IRC § 7345(e)(1)(A).] Moreover, on receipt of such certification the Secretary of State can revoke a passport previously issued to any individual. [IRC § 7345(e)(2)(A).] [From here](https://www.lexisnexis.com/legalnewsroom/tax-law/b/emerging-issues/archive/2016/06/29/new-law-allowing-irs-to-seize-passport.aspx) So the SecyState can be directed to seize a passport by another executive office but it is still the State Department that does the seizing. Also, I would not be shocked if it were challenged in court and there was ruling that Congress cannot direct who does or who does not get a passport. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-special-counsel-keep-the-president-in-the-country/812388/23 "2018-04-19T01:10:00Z")
Deposed leaders can always find a friendly country that will accept them. Ferdinand Marcos fled to Hawaii. All Trump would need to do is to establish physical presence in a country willing to offer asylum, and its a done deal. Going out of the US is no problem You or I can leave the USA at the Mexican border, and nobody asks to see any documents. Not even on the Mexican side, until you get 20 km inside Mexico and have to apply for a tourist card. When I fly out of the US, nobody asks to see a passport except the airline, to make sure I’ll be admitted in the destination countryh. The airline is responsible for repatriating me if I’m not admitgted. But the US government doesn’;t care who leaves. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-special-counsel-keep-the-president-in-the-country/812388/24 "2018-04-19T03:52:54Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Deposed leaders can always find a friendly country that will accept them. Ferdinand Marcos fled to Hawaii. All Trump would need to do is to establish physical presence in a country willing to offer asylum, and its a done deal. > > Going out of the US is no problem You or I can leave the USA at the Mexican border, and nobody asks to see any documents. Not even on the Mexican side, until you get 20 km inside Mexico and have to apply for a tourist card. > > When I fly out of the US, nobody asks to see a passport except the airline, to make sure I’ll be admitted in the destination countryh. The airline is responsible for repatriating me if I’m not admitgted. But the US government doesn’;t care who leaves. In February we were flying to Istanbul from O’Hare and I was amazed to see a half dozen CBP types (or ICE?) checking select passengers’ passports as they were boarding the plane. I’ve never seen outbound customs in the USA before (or Canada). Sign of the times? Looking for ISIS sympathizers? People who overstayed their visas, so they can arrest them before they leave the country (why bother?) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-special-counsel-keep-the-president-in-the-country/812388/25 "2018-04-19T05:22:20Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > In February we were flying to Istanbul from O’Hare and I was amazed to see a half dozen CBP types (or ICE?) checking select passengers’ passports as they were boarding the plane. I’ve never seen outbound customs in the USA before (or Canada). Sign of the times? Looking for ISIS sympathizers? People who overstayed their visas, so they can arrest them before they leave the country (why bother?) IIRC the main thing they look for when they do outbound checks is undeclared cash. In the last few years, they’ve also been building permanent inspection facilities in the outbound lanes of southern border crossings. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-special-counsel-keep-the-president-in-the-country/812388.md?page=1)