1. U.S. Code
  2. title 50
  3. chapter 23
  4. subchapter V
  5. § 851

Collapse to view only § 851. Registration of certain persons; filing statement; regulations

§ 851. Registration of certain persons; filing statement; regulations

Except as provided in section 852 of this title, every person who has knowledge of, or has received instruction or assignment in, the espionage, counter-espionage, or sabotage service or tactics of a government of a foreign country or of a foreign political party, shall register with the Attorney General by filing with the Attorney General a registration statement in duplicate, under oath, prepared and filed in such manner and form, and containing such statements, information, or documents pertinent to the purposes and objectives of this subchapter as the Attorney General, having due regard for the national security and the public interest, by regulations prescribes.

(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 849, § 2, 70 Stat. 899.)

CITE AS: 50 USC 851

§ 852. Exemption from registration
The registration requirements of section 851 of this title do not apply to any person—
(a) who has obtained knowledge of or received instruction or assignment in the espionage, counter-espionage, or sabotage service or tactics of a foreign government or foreign political party by reason of civilian, military, or police service or employment with the United States Government, the governments of the several States, their political subdivisions, the District of Columbia, the Territories, or the Canal Zone;
(b) who has obtained such knowledge solely by reason of academic or personal interest not under the supervision of or in preparation for service with the government of a foreign country or a foreign political party;
(c) who has made full disclosure of such knowledge, instruction, or assignment to officials within an agency of the United States Government having responsibilities in the field of intelligence, which disclosure has been made a matter of record in the files of such agency, and concerning whom a written determination has been made by the Attorney General or the Director of Central Intelligence that registration would not be in the interest of national security;
(d) whose knowledge of, or receipt of instruction or assignment in, the espionage, counterespionage, or sabotage service or tactics of a government of a foreign country or of a foreign political party, is a matter of record in the files of an agency of the United States Government having responsibilities in the field of intelligence and concerning whom a written determination is made by the Attorney General or the Director of Central Intelligence, based on all information available, that registration would not be in the interest of national security;
(e) who is a duly accredited diplomatic or consular officer of a foreign government, who is so recognized by the Department of State, while he is engaged exclusively in activities which are recognized by the Department of State as being within the scope of the functions of such officer, and any member of his immediate family who resides with him;
(f) who is an official of a foreign government recognized by the United States, whose name and status and the character of whose duties as such official are of record in the Department of State, and while he is engaged exclusively in activities which are recognized by the Department of State as being within the scope of the functions of such official, and any member of his immediate family who resides with him;
(g) who is a member of the staff of or employed by a duly accredited diplomatic or consular officer of a foreign government who is so recognized by the Department of State, and whose name and status and the character of whose duties as such member or employee are a matter of record in the Department of State, while he is engaged exclusively in the performance of activities recognized by the Department of State as being within the scope of the functions of such member or employee;
(h) Who 1
1 So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.
is an officially acknowledged and sponsored representative of a foreign government and is in the United States on an official mission for the purpose of conferring or otherwise cooperating with United States intelligence or security personnel;
(i) who is a civilian or one of the military personnel of a foreign armed service coming to the United States pursuant to arrangements made under a mutual defense treaty or agreement, or who has been invited to the United States at the request of an agency of the United States Government; or
(j) who is a person designated by a foreign government to serve as its representative in or to an international organization in which the United States participates or is an officer or employee of such an organization or who is a member of the immediate family of, and resides with, such a representative, officer, or employee.
(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 849, § 3, 70 Stat. 899.)

CITE AS: 50 USC 852

§ 853. Retention of registration statements; public examination; withdrawal

The Attorney General shall retain in permanent form one copy of all registration statements filed under this subchapter. They shall be public records and open to public examination at such reasonable hours and under such regulations as the Attorney General prescribes, except that the Attorney General, having due regard for the national security and public interest, may withdraw any registration statement from public examination.

(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 849, § 4, 70 Stat. 900.)

CITE AS: 50 USC 853

§ 854. Rules, regulations, and forms

The Attorney General may at any time, make, prescribe, amend, and rescind such rules, regulations and forms as he deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.

(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 849, § 5, 70 Stat. 900.)

CITE AS: 50 USC 854

§ 855. Violations; penalties; deportation
(a) Whoever willfully violates any provision of this subchapter or any regulation thereunder, or in any registration statement willfully make 1
1 So in original. Probably should be “makes”.
a false statement of a material fact or willfully omits any material fact, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.
(b) Any alien convicted of a violation of this subchapter or any regulation thereunder is subject to deportation in the manner provided by chapter 4 of title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1221 et seq.].
(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 849, § 6, 70 Stat. 900; Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III, § 308(g)(9)(B), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–624.)

CITE AS: 50 USC 855

§ 856. Continuing offense

Failure to file a registration statement as required by this subchapter is a continuing offense for as long as such failure exists, notwithstanding any statute of limitation or other statute to the contrary.

(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 849, § 7, 70 Stat. 900.)

CITE AS: 50 USC 856

§ 857. Compliance with other registration statutes

Compliance with the registration provisions of this subchapter does not relieve any person from compliance with any other applicable registration statute.

(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 849, § 8, 70 Stat. 900.)

CITE AS: 50 USC 857

§ 858. Applicability to Canal Zone

This subchapter applies to and within the Canal Zone.

(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 849, § 10, as added Pub. L. 87–845, § 13, Oct. 18, 1962, 76A Stat. 700.)

CITE AS: 50 USC 858