---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1116"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1116"
heading: "Murder or manslaughter of foreign officials, official guests, or internationally protected persons"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1116"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 51 — Homicide"
---

# §1116. Murder or manslaughter of foreign officials, official guests, or internationally protected persons

- (a) [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) kills or attempts to kill a foreign official, official guest, or internationally protected [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) shall be punished as provided under sections [1111](/usc/18/1111.md), [1112](/usc/18/1112.md), and [1113](/usc/18/1113.md) of this title.
- (b) For the purposes of this section:
  - (1) “Family” includes (a) a spouse, parent, brother or sister, child, or [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to whom the foreign official or internationally protected [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) stands in loco parentis, or (b) any other [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) living in his household and related to the foreign official or internationally protected [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) by blood or marriage.
  - (2) “Foreign government” means the government of a foreign country, irrespective of recognition by the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9).
  - (3) “Foreign official” means—
    - (A) a Chief of [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) or the political equivalent, President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Ambassador, Foreign Minister, or other [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) of Cabinet rank or above of a foreign government or the chief executive [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) of an international [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), or any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who has previously served in such capacity, and any member of his family, while in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9); and
    - (B) any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) of a foreign nationality who is duly notified to the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) as an [officer or employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=a) of a foreign government or international [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), and who is in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) on official business, and any member of his family whose presence in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) is in connection with the presence of such [officer or employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=a).
  - (4) “Internationally protected [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5)” means—
    - (A) a Chief of [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) or the political equivalent, head of government, or Foreign Minister whenever such [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) is in a country other than his own and any member of his family accompanying him; or
    - (B) any other representative, [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), [employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), or agent of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) Government, a foreign government, or international [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) who at the time and place concerned is entitled pursuant to international law to special protection against attack upon his [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), freedom, or dignity, and any member of his family then forming part of his household.
  - (5) “International [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4)” means a public international [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) designated as such pursuant to section 1 of the International [Organizations](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) Immunities Act ([22 U.S.C. 288](/usc/22/288.md)) or a public [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) created pursuant to treaty or other agreement under international law as an instrument through or by which two or more foreign governments engage in some aspect of their conduct of international affairs.
  - (6) “Official guest” means a citizen or national of a foreign country present in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) as an official guest of the Government of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) pursuant to designation as such by the Secretary of State.
  - (7) “[National of the United States](/usc/18/178.md?p=5)” has the meaning prescribed in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ([8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-22)).
- (c) If the victim of an offense under [subsection (a)](#a) is an internationally protected [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) outside the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) may exercise jurisdiction over the offense if (1) the victim is a representative, [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), [employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), or agent of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), (2) an offender is a [national of the United States](/usc/18/178.md?p=5), or (3) an offender is afterwards found in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9). As used in this subsection, the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) includes all areas under the jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) including any of the places within the provisions of sections [5](/usc/18/5.md) and [7](/usc/18/7.md) of this title and [section 46501(2) of title 49](/usc/49/46501.md?p=2).
- (d) In the course of enforcement of this section and any other sections prohibiting a conspiracy or attempt to violate this section, the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) may request assistance from any Federal, [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9), or local agency, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force, any statute, rule, or regulation to the contrary notwithstanding.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 92–539, title I, § 101, Oct. 24, 1972, 86 Stat. 1071; amended Pub. L. 94–467, § 2, Oct. 8, 1976, 90 Stat. 1997; Pub. L. 95–163, § 17(b)(1), Nov. 9, 1977, 91 Stat. 1286; Pub. L. 95–504, § 2(b), Oct. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 1705; Pub. L. 97–351, § 3, Oct. 18, 1982, 96 Stat. 1666; Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(e)(2), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1373; Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, § 60003(a)(5), title XXXIII, § 330006, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1969, 2142; Pub. L. 104–132, title VII, § 721(c), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1298; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(g)(2), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3500.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–294 struck out “, except that” at end.

Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 104–132, § 721(c)(1), added par. (7).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–132, § 721(c)(2), inserted first sentence and struck out former first sentence which read as follows: “If the victim of an offense under subsection (a) is an internationally protected person, the United States may exercise jurisdiction over the offense if the alleged offender is present within the United States, irrespective of the place where the offense was committed or the nationality of the victim or the alleged offender.”

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330006, which directed the striking of “, and any such person who is found guilty of attempted murder shall be imprisoned for not more than twenty years” before period at end, was executed by striking text which did not include “, and”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the prior amendment by Pub. L. 103–322, § 60003(a)(5). See below.

Pub. L. 103–322, § 60003(a)(5), struck out “any such person who is found guilty of murder in the first degree shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life, and” after “title, except that”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–272 substituted “section 46501(2) of title 49” for “section 101(38) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended (49 U.S.C. 1301(38))”.

1982—Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 97–351 inserted provision relating to a public organization created pursuant to treaty or other agreement under international law as an instrument through or by which two or more foreign governments engage in some aspect of their conduct of foreign affairs.

1978—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–504 substituted reference to section 101(38) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 for reference to section 101(35) of such Act.

1977—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–163 substituted reference to section 101(35) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 for reference to section 101(34) of such Act.

1976—Catchline. Pub. L. 94–467 substituted “official guests, or internationally protected persons” for “or official guests”.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–467 inserted reference to internationally protected persons, section 1113 of this title, and the punishment for a person convicted of attempted murder.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–467 designated existing provision, relating to definition of “foreign official” as par. (3)(A), (B), and added pars. (1), (2), (4), (5) and (6).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–467 substituted provision permitting the United States to exercise jurisdiction over an offense if the victim is an internationally protected person and the alleged offender is present within the United States for provision which defined “foreign government”, “international organization”, “family”, and “official guest”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 94–467 added subsec. (d).