---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1119"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1119"
heading: "Foreign murder of United States nationals"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1119"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 51 — Homicide"
---

# §1119. Foreign murder of United States nationals

- (a) **Definition.—** In this section, “[national of the United States](/usc/18/178.md?p=5)” has the meaning stated 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)).
- (b) **Offense.—** A [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who, being a [national of the United States](/usc/18/178.md?p=5), kills or attempts to kill a [national of the United States](/usc/18/178.md?p=5) while such national is outside the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) but within the jurisdiction of another country shall be punished as provided under sections [1111](/usc/18/1111.md), [1112](/usc/18/1112.md), and 1113.
- (c) **Limitations on Prosecution.—**
  - (1) No prosecution may be instituted against any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) under this section except upon the written approval of the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k), the Deputy [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k), or an Assistant [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k), which function of approving prosecutions may not be delegated. No prosecution shall be approved if prosecution has been previously undertaken by a foreign country for the same conduct.
  - (2) No prosecution shall be approved under this section unless the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k), in consultation with the Secretary of State, determines that the conduct took place in a country in which the [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) is no longer present, and the country lacks the ability to lawfully secure the [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5)’s return. A determination by the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) under this paragraph is not subject to judicial review.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, § 60009(a), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1972.)