# Can you be prosecuted for a US crime committed in another country? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 9, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749 "2005-09-09T00:21:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Lathe\_of\_Heaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lathe_of_Heaven)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/21 "2005-09-09T18:38:49Z")
It does seem that you can be prosecuted for a violation of US law committed in another country–all that you have to do is set foot on U.S. soil. At least, that’s the implication left by the 2002 Dmitry Sklyarov case. Sklyarov was a _Russian_ (not American) citizen arrested in the U.S. for breaking a U.S. law while in Russia. (His actions were legal under Russian law.) There’s the DOJ press release [here](http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/Sklyarov.htm) and the “Free Dimitry” site [here](http://www.freesklyarov.org/). I don’t think they settled the question of whether it was legal/proper for US authorities to arrest a non-citizen for violation of U.S. laws outside the U.S.; prosecutors dropped charges against Sklyarov in exchange for testimony against his employer. (He, and they, were eventually acquitted). ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/22 "2005-09-09T20:22:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Yep. Congress did this a couple years ago to curb sex tourism. Violating the PROTECT Act of 2003 - engaging in illicit commercial sex abroad with anyone under 18 or any sex whatsoever with anyone under 16 - can carry a penalty of up to 30 years imprisonment. Regardless of the legality of the sex act in the foreign territory. > > this sort of application of extraterritorial jurisdiction is somewhat controversial since it does not adhere to the principle of “double criminality” (offence in both countries) - \*\*\*\* - - - It was controversial for _two_ big reasons, that was one. The other is the fact that in court the accused is generally permitted to cross-examine witnesses–and in many international cases of this nature–that will not practically be possible. The government will obtain what they believe to be suitable evidence, and that will very likely be the only versions presented in court. Most accused will have no way to compel witnesses to appear in court at all, and will not be able to finance their travel costs anyway. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/23 "2005-09-10T01:41:17Z")
> [@DougC](#): > > - > - > - It was controversial for _two_ big reasons, that was one. The other is the fact that in court the accused is generally permitted to cross-examine witnesses–and in many international cases of this nature–that will not practically be possible. The government will obtain what they believe to be suitable evidence, and that will very likely be the only versions presented in court. Most accused will have no way to compel witnesses to appear in court at all, and will not be able to finance their travel costs anyway. > ~ I tried to find information on this controversy, but I struck out. Can you point me to some discussions? I realize that [_Crawford v. Washington_](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=02-9410) was decided after the statute was passed, but it seems to resolve any issues about confrontation rights. The [\*Roberts \*](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?navby=case&court=US&vol=448&invol=56) rule, repudiated by _Crawford_, equally resolves the issue, but in a less favorable way for the defendant. Both cases seem to support the conclusion that unavailability of witnesses is a problem that applies in many kinds of cases–not just international ones. _See also_, [http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/foia\_reading\_room/usam/title3/19musa.htm#3-19.200](http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/title3/19musa.htm#3-19.200) (US Attorneys’ Manual discussing procedures for obtaining testimony of foreign nationals, and payment of expenses for indigent defendants–noting difficulty for any party in obtaining testimony). ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/24 "2005-09-10T02:13:41Z")
> [@Rachm Qoch](#): > > Here’s an interesting scenario: > > A twenty-year-old man and his lawful fourteen-year-old bride fly out to Cancun from Colorado for their honeymoon, where they consummate the marriage. > > Can he be arrested upon their return? Even if no Mexican law was violated? Even if they can legally have sex back home in Colorado? The statutes seem to imply so. I agree that the implication of the statute is that they can be prosecuted. Of course, the same result could occur if they consummated in Wyoming. [http://www.law.yale.edu/outside/html/Public\_Affairs/455/yls\_article.htm](http://www.law.yale.edu/outside/html/Public_Affairs/455/yls_article.htm) (full faith and credit does not require recognition of marriage that would be illegal under local law). ---
**Author:** ![Tusculan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/25 "2005-09-10T10:58:43Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > (7) Any place outside the jurisdiction of any nation with respect to an offense by or against a national of the United States. I may misunderstand the discussion, but this section only seems to apply to places outside _any_ nation’s jurisdiction. The OP asked for cases when a crime was committed _within_ a foreign nation’s jurisdiction. Hence this section doesn’t seem to apply. Furthermore one should take into account the closing words: > [@](#): > > Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to supersede any treaty or international agreement with which this paragraph conflicts. This paragraph does not apply with respect to an offense committed by a person described in section 3261 (a) of this title. These seem to point out that treaty law trumps this statute. Are there no relevant treaties? ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/26 "2005-09-10T13:28:44Z")
> [@Tusculan](#): > > I may misunderstand the discussion, but this section only seems to apply to places outside _any_ nation’s jurisdiction. The OP asked for cases when a crime was committed _within_ a foreign nation’s jurisdiction. Hence this section doesn’t seem to apply. You are correct, the statute doesn’t directly apply, but the cases I have cited clearly hold that a citizen my in fact be prosecuted for crimes committed on foreign soil. _And see_, [_Skiriotes v. Florida_, 313 U.S. 69, 73 (1941)](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&court=US&case=/us/499/244.html) (the United States is not debarred by any rule of international law from governing the conduct of its own citizens upon the high seas or even in foreign countries when the rights of other nations or their nationals are not infringed). As\*\* Lathe of Heaven \*\*has pointed out, “application of United States law to United States nationals abroad ordinarily raises considerably less serious questions of international comity than does the application of United States law to foreign nationals abroad.” [_EEOC v. Arabian American Oil Co._, 499 U.S. 244, 274 (1991)](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?navby=volpage&court=us&vol=499&page=274#274) > [@](#): > > These seem to point out that treaty law trumps this statute. Are there no relevant treaties? One word is key here: > [@](#): > > Nothing in this \*\*paragraph \*\*shall be deemed to supersede any treaty or international agreement with which this paragraph conflicts. This paragraph does not apply with respect to an offense committed by a person described in section 3261 (a) of this title. (Emphasis added.) Paragraph refers to this paragraph of the statute: > [@](#): > > (9) With respect to offenses committed by or against a national of the United States as that term is used in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act— > (A) the premises of United States diplomatic, consular, military or other United States Government missions or entities in foreign States, including the buildings, parts of buildings, and land appurtenant or ancillary thereto or used for purposes of those missions or entities, irrespective of ownership; and > (B) residences in foreign States and the land appurtenant or ancillary thereto, irrespective of ownership, used for purposes of those missions or entities or used by United States personnel assigned to those missions or entities. There is at least one [treaty](http://www.un.org/law/ilc/texts/diplomat.htm) that covers this subject. And if the last paragraph were not included, there is a risk that a court could construe the paragraph as a repeal of the treaty. \*See, e.g., \* [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=185&invol=213](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=185&invol=213) (a treaty may supersede a prior act of Congress, and an act of Congress may supersede a prior treaty) (Marshall, J. dissenting); [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal\_jurisdiction](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_jurisdiction). The statute seems to cover jurrisdiction to arrest, not jurisdiction to legislate. See, e.g., > [@](#): > > It is clear that a State cannot arrest an individual outside its territory and forcibly bring him before its courts for trial. In this connection, it is necessary to examine the effect of an arrest warrant issued by a State authority against an individual who is subject to that State’s jurisdiction to prescribe law. > > The arrest warrant is an official document issued by the State’s judiciary empowering the police authorities to take forcible action to place the individual under arrest. Without more, however, the warrant is not directly binding on foreign authorities, who are not part of the law enforcement mechanism of the issuing State. The individual may be arrested abroad (that is, outside the issuing State) only by the authorities of the State where he or she is present, since jurisdiction over that territory lies exclusively with that State. Those authorities will arrest the individual being sought by the issuing State only if the requested State is committed to do so pursuant to international arrangements with the issuing State. Interpol is merely an organization which transmits the arrest request from one State to another; it has no enforcement powers of its own. > > It bears stressing that the issuance of an arrest warrant by one State and the international circulation of the warrant through Interpol have no legal impact unless the arrest request is validated by the receiving State. ARREST WARRANT OF 11 APRIL 2000 (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO v. BELGIUM) (International Court of Justice ) (14 February 2002) (Judge Oda dissenting) [http://www.virtual-institute.de/en/wcd/wcd.cfm?104020100400.cfm](http://www.virtual-institute.de/en/wcd/wcd.cfm?104020100400.cfm) ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/27 "2005-09-10T14:06:54Z")
Here are a few scholarly discussions of the topics that we have been discussing: [UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION (Amnesty International)](http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engior530032001?OpenDocument) [EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION AND SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY ON TRIAL:NORIEGA, PINOCHET, AND MILOSEVIC—TRENDS IN POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW](http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/law/lwsch/journals/bciclr/25_1/05_TXT.htm) Application of Treaty-Based Universal Jurisdiction to Nationals of Non-Party States (pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/28 "2005-09-10T14:21:32Z")
On the jurisdiction by kidnap issue: [http://www.law.du.edu/ilj/online\_issues\_folder/vol29-1burrmacrofinal.pdf](http://www.law.du.edu/ilj/online_issues_folder/vol29-1burrmacrofinal.pdf) [http://www.upf.pf/recherche/IRIDIP/RJP/RJP9/5%20Costi.mtc.pdf](http://www.upf.pf/recherche/IRIDIP/RJP/RJP9/5%20Costi.mtc.pdf) [http://www.thelenreid.com/articles/article/art\_144\_idx.htm](http://www.thelenreid.com/articles/article/art_144_idx.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/29 "2005-09-10T18:44:24Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > I agree that the implication of the statute is that they can be prosecuted. Of course, the same result could occur if they consummated in Wyoming. [http://www.law.yale.edu/outside/html/Public\_Affairs/455/yls\_article.htm](http://www.law.yale.edu/outside/html/Public_Affairs/455/yls_article.htm) (full faith and credit does not require recognition of marriage that would be illegal under local law). You may be scratching your head and wondering how Congress got the power to do this. There are really two answers: 1. It probably has the power to regulate interstate or cross-border travel for sex acts under the interestate and foreign commerce clauses. [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=227&invol=308](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=227&invol=308) (Congress may not regulate prostitution, but it can regulate interstate travel for immoral purposes). 2. One could argue that the statute was passed in order to implement several child protective treaties. [http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2004/33202.htm](http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2004/33202.htm) (discussing Protect act and various child protective treaties); [http://www.unicef.org/crc/crc.htm](http://www.unicef.org/crc/crc.htm) (Convention on Rights of the Child, which requires states to enact legislation in order to comply with treaty). If that were the case, then [\*Missouri v. Holland \*](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=252&invol=416) and its progeny support the proposition that Congress may legislate under a treaty even if it otherwise lacks the power under Article I to legislate on the subject matter. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/30 "2005-09-10T22:47:53Z")
It should also be noted that certain U.S. employment laws apply to U.S. businesses operating on foreign soil – specifically, laws about sexual harrassment. If a U.S. executive working at the subsidiary in country X of a U.S. business harrasses an employee who is a citizen of X, the company can be sued by the citizen of X under U.S. laws, in U.S. court. ---
**Author:** ![Rachm\_Qoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Rachm\_Qoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachm_Qoch)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/31 "2005-09-11T01:07:57Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > I agree that the implication of the statute is that they can be prosecuted. Of course, the same result could occur if they consummated in Wyoming. [http://www.law.yale.edu/outside/html/Public\_Affairs/455/yls\_article.htm](http://www.law.yale.edu/outside/html/Public_Affairs/455/yls_article.htm) (full faith and credit does not require recognition of marriage that would be illegal under local law). The key difference here, though, is that a Wyoming law is broken. In the colorado-Mexico scenario no local law is broken. This actually goes beyond the OP as you can be prosecuted for commiting _no crime_ in a foreign country. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/32 "2005-09-11T02:30:26Z")
> [@Rachm Qoch](#): > > This actually goes beyond the OP as you can be prosecuted for commiting _no crime_ in a foreign country. 😕 > [@The OP](#): > > More spcifically can the State prosecute you for a crime you commit in another country that the US considers a crime but the other country does not (so the other country lets you go)? ::cricket chirps:: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/33 "2005-09-11T03:19:57Z")
> [@Rachm Qoch](#): > > The key difference here, though, is that a Wyoming law is broken. In the colorado-Mexico scenario no local law is broken. This actually goes beyond the OP as you can be prosecuted for commiting _no crime_ in a foreign country. In my mind the key difference is that Wyoming is doing the prosecuting. A different principle of conflict of laws applies in this case, it’s the opposite of extraterritorialilty. In this case, the usual rules of comity and full faith and credit give way to public policy. The host state is permitted to enforce its own law in its own territory. It would be a step beyond the OP if Colorado prosecuted them upon their return for violating Wyoming law. This would be exceptional. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characterisation\_(conflict)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characterisation_(conflict)) ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/34 "2005-09-11T04:55:03Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > It should also be noted that certain U.S. employment laws apply to U.S. businesses operating on foreign soil – specifically, laws about sexual harrassment. If a U.S. executive working at the subsidiary in country X of a U.S. business harrasses an employee who is a citizen of X, the company can be sued by the citizen of X under U.S. laws, in U.S. court. I wrote a couple of the briefs in [this case](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=9th&navby=case&no=9670076). (NLRA applies to non-resident workers in Saipan). Here are some good resources on the extraterritorial application of federal labor laws. [http://www.ofaolain.com/profdev/pathfinders/extraterritorialitylaborlaw](http://www.ofaolain.com/profdev/pathfinders/extraterritorialitylaborlaw) [http://www.bna.com/bnabooks/ababna/annual/2000/outtenextra.pdf](http://www.bna.com/bnabooks/ababna/annual/2000/outtenextra.pdf) (pdf) [http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=4&url=http%3A//www.bna.com/bnabooks/ababna/annual/2001/moldof.doc&ei=grgjQ5vPAo-MiAH9\_Z3HAQ](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=4&url=http%3A//www.bna.com/bnabooks/ababna/annual/2001/moldof.doc&ei=grgjQ5vPAo-MiAH9_Z3HAQ) (Word document) [http://www.law.kuleuven.ac.be/iir/nl/wp/WP84e.pdf](http://www.law.kuleuven.ac.be/iir/nl/wp/WP84e.pdf) (pdf) (application of US law to foreign flag vessels in US waters) ---
**Author:** ![Alien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/57b2e6/32.png) [@Alien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alien)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/35 "2005-09-12T03:48:32Z")
This seems like a good option to ask a related question I’ve been wondering about. A person who has committed a crime abroad, illegal both in the US and in that other place, can be arrested and convicted in the US even when that person has already served time for the crime in the other country. How does this work with regard to the double jeopardy clause? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/36 "2005-09-12T10:48:27Z")
> [@Alien](#): > > This seems like a good option to ask a related question I’ve been wondering about. A person who has committed a crime abroad, illegal both in the US and in that other place, can be arrested and convicted in the US even when that person has already served time for the crime in the other country. How does this work with regard to the double jeopardy clause? The double jeopardy clause does not forbid prosecution by two different sovereign entities for the same crime. ---
**Author:** ![juanmdt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cc9497/32.png) [@juanmdt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/juanmdt)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/37 "2015-12-02T04:05:00Z")
ok i have a question if im a foreing and i comitte a crime in the united states to a foreing do the legal system of us extradite to your country to let they keep going to the investigation or the process you like a us citizen ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/38 "2015-12-02T04:24:15Z")
> [@juanmdt](#): > > ok i have a question if im a foreing and i comitte a crime in the united states to a foreing do the legal system of us extradite to your country to let they keep going to the investigation or the process you like a us citizen If you do an act in the US which is a crime under US law, you’ll be tried and punished in the US under US law. It makes no difference whether you, or the victim, are US citizens. If you are a foreign national, they will not extradite you to your own country. However, if you are convicted in the US, when you have served your time you may be deported back to your own country as an undesirable alien. If, after committing the crime in the US but before being arrested, you return to your own country, the US may seek your extradition. Whether your own country will extradite you depends on the terms of whatever extradition arrangement is in place b between your country and the US. Many countries have a policy of not extraditing their own nationals. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749/39 "2015-12-02T04:32:48Z")
> [@juanmdt](#): > > ok i have a question if im a foreing and i comitte a crime in the united states to a foreing do the legal system of us extradite to your country to let they keep going to the investigation or the process you like a us citizen Since a new thread has been started on this subject, and this one is old, I’m going to close it. > **[foreing crimes committed in the us](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=776877)** > > ok i wanted to know about how the us process the crimes committed in the united states by foreign people for example im a foreigner waiting for political asylum and got some fake id and license to drive to work by the moment im here for political... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-be-prosecuted-for-a-us-crime-committed-in-another-country/320749.md?page=1)