---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 4432"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "4432"
heading: "Establishment of preclearance operations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/4432"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement"
  - "Subchapter VII — Preclearance Operations"
---

# §4432. Establishment of preclearance operations


Pursuant to [section 1629 of this title](/usc/19/1629.md) and [section 1103(a)(7) of title 8](/usc/8/1103.md?p=a-7), and provided that an aviation security preclearance agreement (as defined in section 44901(d)(4)(B)[^1] of title 49) is in effect, the [Secretary](/usc/19/4431.md?p=2) may establish and maintain U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance operations in a foreign [country](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3)—

- (1) to prevent terrorists, instruments of terrorism, and other security threats from entering the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9);
- (2) to prevent inadmissible [persons](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) from entering the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9);
- (3) to ensure that merchandise destined for the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) complies with applicable laws;
- (4) to ensure the prompt processing of [persons](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) eligible to travel to the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9); and
- (5) to accomplish such other [objectives](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=3) as the [Secretary](/usc/19/4431.md?p=2) determines are necessary to protect the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 114–125, title VIII, § 813, Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 217.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 44901(d)(4)(B) of title 49, referred to in text, was redesignated section 44901(d)(2)(B) of title 49 by Pub. L. 115–254, div. K, title I, § 1991(d)(1)(C)(iii), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3628.