# French Foreign Legion Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 18, 2001, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-foreign-legion-question/65792 "2001-05-18T04:52:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2001, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-foreign-legion-question/65792/1 "2001-05-18T04:52:41Z")
I wonder if France will extradite a _FORMER_ Legionaire to his homeland if he’s wanted for a crime there. This is what I know. The French Foreign Legion will accept a known criminal. Probably not somebody on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted List, but they still take people guilty or accused of some fairly serious stuff. For example, I know they’ve recently taken an American recruit wanted by the U.S. government for, if I remember correctly, fraud and income tax evasion. In the Legion, you have several opportunities to change your name/identity. And, if you’re a Legionnaire who is wanted, they may change your name for you whether you want it changed or not–this saves the Legion a bunch of hassles with various law-enforcement agencies. They can look at their records and honestly say, “Well, Mister INTERPOL Man, we definitely do not have a fugitive with that name within our ranks.” Which I think is cool. But here’s the problem. Once you complete your enlistment, you **MUST** revert to your original legal name. The only exception to this is if you adopt a French spelling, changing your name from Alan to Alain for example. So, I’m wondering . . . if you join the Legion, get a name change, receive protection from the Legion, get out, and become a French citizen with your original name and are wanted by other nation’s cops or courts . . . do they just say, “Well, guess you’re shit-out-of-luck,” or what? Anybody know what the French would do in this situation? BTW, I did a search on this and found several references to the Legion, but no answer to this specific question. Also, I know my spelling and grammar aren’t the best, sorry. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2001, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-foreign-legion-question/65792/2 "2001-05-18T07:45:36Z")
For many crimes, I’d imagine that the statute of limitations would take care of that. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2001, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-foreign-legion-question/65792/3 "2001-05-18T08:10:20Z")
According to official sites, the Legion will not accept known criminals. According to unofficial sites, they will occasionally turn a blind eye to minor non-military related crimes. From [La Legion Etrangere](http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/9579/legio.htm): > [@](#): > > They will also attempt to find out any details about any crimes that you have committed in the past. They work very closely with Interpol and if you happen to be on their wanted list you can expect little refuge in the Legion. You will be handed straight over to the Gendarmes. From [French Foreign Legion](http://www.zenyx.net/parisguide/organizations/frenchforeignregion/english.htm): > [@](#): > > In the enlistment procedure, selection is very tough. Many candidates are turned down for medical reasons, or after a thorough study of their individual cases. The legionnaire is seldom an angel but never a criminal. From [Foreign Legion Life](http://www.foreignlegionlife.com/chapter1.htm#beforeyougo): > [@](#): > > A criminal history may be overlooked if the offenses are minor but there are no guarantees.