---
kind: "section"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 2467"
title: "28"
title_heading: "Judiciary and Judicial Procedure"
number: "2467"
heading: "Enforcement of foreign judgment"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/28/2467"
units:
  - "Part VI — Particular Proceedings"
  - "Chapter 163 — Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures"
---

# §2467. Enforcement of foreign judgment

- (a) **Definitions.—** In this section—
  - (1) the term “foreign nation” means a country that has become a party to the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (referred to in this section as the “United Nations Convention”) or a foreign jurisdiction with which the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) has a treaty or other formal international agreement in effect providing for mutual forfeiture assistance; and
  - (2) the term “forfeiture or confiscation [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8)” means a final order of a foreign nation compelling a [person](/usc/28/3002.md?p=10) or entity—
    - (A) to pay a sum of money representing the proceeds of an offense described in Article 3, Paragraph 1, of the United Nations Convention, any violation of foreign law that would constitute a violation or an offense for which [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) could be forfeited under Federal law if the offense were committed in the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15), or any foreign offense described in [section 1956(c)(7)(B) of title 18](/usc/18/1956.md?p=c-7-B), or [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) the value of which corresponds to such proceeds; or
    - (B) to forfeit [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) involved in or traceable to the commission of such offense.
- (b) **Review by Attorney General.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** A foreign nation seeking to have a forfeiture or confiscation [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) registered and enforced by a district [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) of the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) under this section shall first submit a request to the Attorney General or the designee of the Attorney General, which request shall include—
    - (A) a summary of the facts of the case and a description of the proceedings that resulted in the forfeiture or confiscation [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8);
    - (B) certified[^1] copy of the forfeiture or confiscation [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8);
    - (C) an affidavit or sworn declaration establishing that the foreign nation took steps, in accordance with the principles of due process, to give notice of the proceedings to all [persons](/usc/28/3002.md?p=10) with an interest in the [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) in sufficient time to enable such [persons](/usc/28/3002.md?p=10) to defend against the charges and that the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) rendered is in force and is not subject to appeal; and
    - (D) such additional information and evidence as may be required by the Attorney General or the designee of the Attorney General.
  - (2) **Certification of request.—** The Attorney General or the designee of the Attorney General shall determine whether, in the interest of justice, to certify the request, and such decision shall be final and not subject to either judicial review or review under subchapter II of [chapter 5](/usc/28/chptI/ch5.md), or [chapter 7](/usc/5/chptI/ch7.md), of title 5 (commonly known as the “Administrative Procedure Act”).
- (c) **Jurisdiction and Venue.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** If the Attorney General or the designee of the Attorney General certifies a request under [subsection (b)](#b), the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) may file an application on behalf of a foreign nation in district [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) of the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) seeking to enforce the foreign forfeiture or confiscation [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) as if the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) had been entered by a [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) in the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15).
  - (2) **Proceedings.—** In a proceeding filed under [paragraph (1)](#c-1)—
    - (A) the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) shall be the applicant and the defendant or another [person](/usc/28/3002.md?p=10) or entity affected by the forfeiture or confiscation [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) shall be the respondent;
    - (B) venue shall lie in the district [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) for the District of Columbia or in any other district in which the defendant or the [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) that may be the basis for satisfaction of a [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) under this section may be found; and
    - (C) the district [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) shall have personal jurisdiction over a defendant residing outside of the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) if the defendant is served with process in accordance with [rule 4](/usc/28/4.md) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
- (d) **Entry and Enforcement of Judgment.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** The district [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) shall enter such orders as may be necessary to enforce the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) on behalf of the foreign nation unless the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) finds that—
    - (A) the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) was rendered under a system that provides tribunals or procedures incompatible with the requirements of due process of law;
    - (B) the [foreign court](/usc/28/4101.md?p=3) lacked personal jurisdiction over the defendant;
    - (C) the [foreign court](/usc/28/4101.md?p=3) lacked jurisdiction over the subject matter;
    - (D) the foreign nation did not take steps, in accordance with the principles of due process, to give notice of the proceedings to a [person](/usc/28/3002.md?p=10) with an interest in the [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) of the proceedings[^2] in sufficient time to enable him or her to defend; or
    - (E) the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) was obtained by fraud.
  - (2) **Process.—** Process to enforce a [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) under this section shall be in accordance with rule 69(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
  - (3) **Preservation of property.—**
    - (A) **Restraining orders.—**
      - (i) **In general.—** To preserve the availability of [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) subject to civil or criminal forfeiture under foreign law, the Government may apply for, and the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) may issue, a restraining order at any time before or after the initiation of forfeiture proceedings by a foreign nation.
      - (ii) **Procedures.—**
        - (I) **In general.—** A restraining order under this subparagraph shall be issued in a manner consistent with subparagraphs [(A)](#d-1-A), [(C)](#d-1-C), and [(E)](#d-1-E) of paragraph (1) and the procedural due process protections for a restraining order under [section 983(j) of title 18](/usc/18/983.md?p=j).
        - (II) **Application.—** For purposes of applying such section 983(j)—
          - (aa) references in such section 983(j) to civil forfeiture or the filing of a complaint shall be deemed to refer to the applicable foreign criminal or forfeiture proceedings; and
          - (bb) the reference in paragraph (1)(B)(i) of such section 983(j) to the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) shall be deemed to refer to the foreign nation.
    - (B) **Evidence.—** The [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2), in issuing a restraining order under [subparagraph (A)](#d-3-A)—
      - (i) may rely on information set forth in an affidavit describing the nature of the proceeding or investigation underway in the foreign country, and setting forth a reasonable basis to believe that the [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) to be restrained will be named in a [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) of forfeiture at the conclusion of such proceeding; or
      - (ii) may register and enforce a restraining order that has been issued by a [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) of competent jurisdiction in the foreign country and certified by the Attorney General pursuant to [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2).
    - (C) **Limit on grounds for objection.—** No [person](/usc/28/3002.md?p=10) may object to a restraining order under [subparagraph (A)](#d-3-A) on any ground that is the subject of parallel litigation involving the same [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) that is pending in a [foreign court](/usc/28/4101.md?p=3).
- (e) **Finality of Foreign Findings.—** In entering orders to enforce the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8), the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) shall be bound by the findings of fact to the extent that they are stated in the foreign forfeiture or confiscation [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8).
- (f) **Currency Conversion.—** The rate of exchange in effect at the time the suit to enforce is filed by the foreign nation shall be used in calculating the amount stated in any forfeiture or confiscation [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) requiring the payment of a sum of money submitted for registration.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be preceded by “a”.
[^2]: So in original. The words “of the proceedings” probably should not appear.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 106–185, § 15(a), Apr. 25, 2000, 114 Stat. 219; amended Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 323, Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 315; Pub. L. 111–342, § 2, Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3607.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsecs. (c)(2)(C) and (d)(2), are set out in the Appendix to this title.

### Amendments

2010—Subsec. (d)(3)(A). Pub. L. 111–342 amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “To preserve the availability of property subject to a foreign forfeiture or confiscation judgment, the Government may apply for, and the court may issue, a restraining order pursuant to section 983(j) of title 18, at any time before or after an application is filed pursuant to subsection (c)(1) of this section.”

2001—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 107–56, § 323(4), inserted “, any violation of foreign law that would constitute a violation or an offense for which property could be forfeited under Federal law if the offense were committed in the United States” after “United Nations Convention”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 107–56, § 323(2), substituted “establishing that the foreign nation took steps, in accordance with the principles of due process, to give notice of the proceedings to all persons with an interest in the property in sufficient time to enable such persons” for “establishing that the defendant received notice of the proceedings in sufficient time to enable the defendant”.

Subsec. (d)(1)(D). Pub. L. 107–56, § 323(3), substituted “the foreign nation did not take steps, in accordance with the principles of due process, to give notice of the proceedings to a person with an interest in the property” for “the defendant in the proceedings in the foreign court did not receive notice”.

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 107–56, § 323(1), added par. (3).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section applicable to any forfeiture proceeding commenced on or after the date that is 120 days after Apr. 25, 2000, see section 21 of Pub. L. 106–185, set out as an Effective Date of 2000 Amendment note under section 1324 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.