---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1424"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1424"
heading: "Personation or misuse of papers in naturalization proceedings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1424"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 69 — Nationality and Citizenship"
---

# §1424. Personation or misuse of papers in naturalization proceedings


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), whether as applicant, declarant, petitioner, witness or otherwise, in any naturalization or citizenship proceeding, knowingly personates another or appears falsely in the name of a deceased [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) or in an assumed or fictitious name; or

[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) knowingly and unlawfully uses or attempts to use, as showing naturalization or citizenship of any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), any order, certificate, certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship, judgment, decree, or exemplification, or copies or duplicates thereof, issued to another [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), or in a fictitious name or in the name of a deceased [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5)—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 766; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on subsection (a) pars. (6)(a), (b), (15), (b), (d) of section 746 of title 8, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Aliens and Nationality (Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 876, § 346(a), pars. (6), (15), (b), (d), 54 Stat. 1164, 1165, 1167).

Section consolidates, with minor verbal changes, subsections (a), pars. (6)(a), (b), (15), (b), (d), and the general punishment provision of section 746 of title 8, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Aliens and Nationality.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000” in last par.