4-04/035.00 - Alien/Foreign National

4-04/035.00
ALIEN/FOREIGN
NATIONAL

See "Diplomatic and Consular Officials"; and Volume 5, chapter 9.

Alien/foreign
national here
under visa
arrested,detained, or imprisoned

See under
appropriate
crime
classification

All personnel with law enforcement responsibilities are obligated by the U.S. International Treaty to notify foreign authorities when foreign nationals are arrested or otherwise detained in the United States.  The list below shall be consulted to determine whether notification is mandatory.

The arresting Deputy, or any Department member who determines, subsequent to the arrest, that the subject is a foreign national, shall in all cases immediately inform the foreign national of his right to have his government notified concerning the arrest/detention. 

If the foreign national requests his consulate be notified, the Deputy shall immediately notify the International Liaison Unit, who in turn will notify the consulate.  If desired, the arresting Deputy will provide the foreign national with the address and telephone number of the consulate requested.  Documentation of all notifications to foreign diplomatic or consular representatives shall be noted in the report. 

If notification is optional and is not requested by the detainee, that fact should be recorded in the report and no notice shall be given. 

In the case of certain countries, notification is mandatory and must be made immediately, regardless of whether the arrestee/detainee so desires.

These countries are:

Albania                                       Malta
Antigua                                       Mauritius
Armenia                                      Moldova
Azerbaijan                                  Mongolia
Bahamas                                    Nigeria
Barbados                                    Philippines
Belarus                                       Poland
Belize                                          Romania
Brunei                                         Russian Federation
Bulgaria                                      St. Kitts/Nevis
People’s Republic of China*       St. Lucia
Costa Rica                                  St. Vincent/
Cyprus                                        Grenadines
Czech Republic                           Seychelles
Dominica                                     Sierra Leone
Fiji                                               Singapore
The Gambia                                Slovak Republic
Georgia                                       South Korea
Ghana                                         Tajikisten
Grenada                                      Tanzania
Guyana                                       Tonga
Hungary                                      Trinidad/Tobago
Jamaica                                      Turkmenistan
Kazakhstan                                 Tuvalu
Kiribati                                         Ukraine
Kuwait                                         United Kingdom**
Kyrgzstan                                    U.S.S.R.
Malaysia                                      Uzbekistan
                                                     Zambia

*        Taiwan nationals (carrying Republic of China passports) who are detained, notification shall be made to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles.

**      British Dependencies also included by this agreement are Anguilla British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Subject to local laws and regulations foreign consular officers have the right to visit their nationals, to converse and correspond with them and to arrange for legal representatives.

If the national’s status is established later by Custody Division personnel, this information shall be forward to the Watch Commander as applicable.  The Watch Commander shall immediately notify the International Liaison Unit (or the Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau, if after hours), who in turn, shall make the proper notifications.

Designate SRD to International Liaison Unit.  Upon notification, Immigration will either place a hold and take custody after the criminal case is disposed of, or the subject shall be released upon fulfillment of any commitment.

Death of an
Alien/Foreign
National

Notwithstanding any other duties and responsibilities necessary during an investigation of death, as outlined in Volume 5, chapter 9, section 5-09/090.35, the investigating Unit shall immediately notify the International Liaison Unit for consular notification.