---
kind: "section"
citation: "8 U.S.C. § 1286"
title: "8"
title_heading: "Aliens and Nationality"
number: "1286"
heading: "Discharge of alien crewmen; penalties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/8/1286"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Immigration and Nationality"
  - "Subchapter II — Immigration"
  - "Part VI — Special Provisions Relating to Alien Crewmen"
---

# §1286. Discharge of alien crewmen; penalties


It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-3), including the owner, agent, consignee, charterer, master, or commanding officer of any vessel or aircraft, to pay off or discharge any [alien](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-3) [crewman](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-10), except an [alien](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-3) [lawfully admitted for permanent residence](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-20), employed on board a vessel or aircraft arriving in the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) without first having obtained the consent of the [Attorney General](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-5). If it shall appear to the satisfaction of the [Attorney General](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-5) that any [alien](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-3) [crewman](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-10) has been paid off or discharged in the [United States](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-38) in violation of the provisions of this section, such owner, agent, consignee, charterer, master, commanding officer, or other [person](/usc/8/1101.md?p=b-3), shall pay to the [Commissioner](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-8) the sum of $3,000 for each such violation. No vessel or aircraft shall be granted clearance pending the determination of the question of the liability to the payment of such sums, or while such sums remain unpaid, except that clearance may be granted prior to the determination of such question upon the deposit of an amount sufficient to cover such sums, or of a bond approved by the [Commissioner](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-8) with sufficient surety to secure the payment thereof. Such fine may, in the discretion of the [Attorney General](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-5), be mitigated to not less than $1,500 for each violation, upon such terms as he shall think proper.


## Source credit

(June 27, 1952, ch. 477, title II, ch. 6, § 256, 66 Stat. 223; Pub. L. 101–649, title V, § 543(a)(6), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 5058.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1990—Pub. L. 101–649 substituted “Commissioner the sum of $3,000” for “collector of customs of the customs district in which the violation occurred the sum of $1,000” in second sentence, “Commissioner” for “collector of customs” in third sentence, and “$1,500” for “$500” in fourth sentence.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–649 applicable to actions taken after Nov. 29, 1990, see section 543(c) of Pub. L. 101–649, set out as a note under section 1221 of this title.

### Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service, transfer of functions, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.