Diplomatic Immunity in The United States
The following chart outlines the immunities afforded to foreign diplomatic personnel residing in the United States. In general, these rules follow the Vienna Convention and apply in other countries as well.
| Category | May be arrested or detained | Residence may be entered subject to ordinary procedures | May be issued traffic ticket | May be subpoenaed as witness | May be prosecuted | Official family member | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diplomatic | Diplomatic agent | No | No | Yes | No | No | Same as sponsor |
| Member of administrative and technical staff | No | No | Yes | No | No | Same as sponsor | |
| Service staff | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, for official acts. Otherwise, yes | No | |
| Consular | Career Consular Officers | Yes, if for a felony and pursuant to a warrant. | Yes | Yes | No, for official acts. Testimony may not be compelled in any case. | No, for official acts. Otherwise, yes | No |
| Honorary consular officers | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, for official acts. Yes, in all other cases | No, for official acts. Otherwise, yes | No | |
| Consular employees | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, for official acts. Yes, in all other cases | No, for official acts. Otherwise, yes | No | |
| International organization | Diplomatic-level staff of missions to international organizations | No | No | Yes | No | No | Same as sponsor |
| International Organization Staff | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, for official acts. Yes, in all other cases | No, for official acts. Otherwise, yes | No | |
| Support staff of missions to international organizations | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, for official acts. Yes, in all other cases | No, for official acts. Otherwise, yes | No | |
Read more about this topic: Diplomatic Immunity
Famous quotes containing the words united states, diplomatic, immunity, united and/or states:
“So here they are, the dog-faced soldiers, the regulars, the fifty-cents-a-day professionals riding the outposts of the nation, from Fort Reno to Fort Apache, from Sheridan to Stark. They were all the same. Men in dirty-shirt blue and only a cold page in the history books to mark their passing. But wherever they rode and whatever they fought for, that place became the United States.”
—Frank S. Nugent (19081965)
“Divorce. A resumption of diplomatic relations and rectification of boundaries.”
—Ambrose Bierce (18421914)
“When the peace is a trade route, figures
For the budget, reduction of population,
Life grown sullen and immense
Lusts after immunity to pain.”
—Allen Tate (18991979)
“The United States have a coffle of four millions of slaves. They are determined to keep them in this condition; and Massachusetts is one of the confederated overseers to prevent their escape.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)
“The moment a mere numerical superiority by either states or voters in this country proceeds to ignore the needs and desires of the minority, and for their own selfish purpose or advancement, hamper or oppress that minority, or debar them in any way from equal privileges and equal rightsthat moment will mark the failure of our constitutional system.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (18821945)