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EmailConsular Notification and Access, Part 3: FAQs
Questions About Consular Officers
Questions About Foreign Nationals
Questions About Who Is Responsible for Consular Notification
Questions About When Consular Notification Should Be Given
Questions About How Consular Notification Should Be Given
Questions About Failure To Notify
Questions About Consular Access and Assistance
Questions About Contacting the Department of State
QUESTIONS ABOUT CONSULAR OFFICERS
Q. What is a "consular officer?"
A. A consular officer is a citizen of a foreign country employed by a foreign government and authorized to provide assistance
on behalf of that government to that government's citizens in a foreign country. Consular officers are generally assigned
to the consular section of a foreign government's embassy in Washington, DC, or to consular offices maintained by the foreign
government in locations in the United States outside of Washington, DC.
Q. What is a "consul?"
A. The terms "consular officer" and "consul" mean the same thing, for purposes of the issues discussed in this booklet.
Q. How is a consular officer different from legal "counsel?"
A. The term "consul" should not be confused with "counsel," which means an attorney-at-law authorized to provide legal counsel
and advice.
Q. What is an "honorary consul?"
A. An honorary consul is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States who has been authorized by a foreign government
to perform official functions on its behalf in the United States.
Q. Is an honorary consul to be treated in the same way as a consular officer?
A. Yes, when an honorary consul is performing the kinds of functions addressed in this booklet. A foreign government can authorize
its honorary consuls to perform prison visits or even to accept consular notification on the government's behalf. As a practical
matter, however, since honorary consuls and their addresses and phone numbers may change more frequently than the phone numbers
of embassies and consulates, the Department of State assumes that consular notification will generally be given to consular
officers who serve at an embassy or consulate. Such officers may then ask an honorary consul closer to the actual place of
detention to visit the detained alien.
Q. How are diplomatic officers different from consular officers?
A. A diplomat is an officer of a foreign government assigned to an embassy in Washington, DC Many diplomatic officers are authorized
by their governments to perform consular functions, and thus to act as consular officers.
Q. Should I treat a diplomatic officer the same as a consular officer?
A. Yes, for purposes of the matters discussed in this booklet. Consular notification can be given to a diplomatic officer if
no consular officer is closer or available. A diplomatic officer should be permitted to conduct prison visits and to perform
the other kinds of consular functions discussed herein.
Q. How can I be sure that someone who claims to be a consular officer, a consul, an honorary consul, or a diplomatic officer
is in fact one?
A. Diplomatic and consular officers (including consuls and honorary consuls) have identification cards issued by the Department
of State. The cards look like the cards shown in Part One. If you have any doubt about the authenticity of a State Department
identification card, you can call the State Department's Office of Protocol at 202-647-1985 to have the identity and status
of the official verified during business hours (8:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., EST). Outside of those hours, you may call 202-647-7277.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT FOREIGN NATIONALS
Q. Who is a "foreign national?"
A. For the purposes of consular notification, a "foreign national" is any person who is not a U.S. citizen.
Q. Is a foreign national the same as an "alien?"
A. Yes. The terms "foreign national" and "alien" are used interchangeably.
Q. Is a person with a U.S. "green card" considered a foreign national?
A. Yes. Lawful permanent resident aliens, who have a resident alien registration card (USCIS Form I-551), commonly known as
a "green card," retain their foreign nationality and must be considered "foreign nationals" for the purposes of consular notification.
Q. Do I have to ask everyone I arrest or detain whether he or she is a foreign national?
A. No, although some law enforcement entities do routinely ask persons taken into detention whether they are U.S. Citizens.
If a detainee claims to be a U.S. citizen in response to such a question, you generally can rely on that assertion and assume
that consular notification requirements are not relevant. If you have reason to question whether the person you are arresting
or detaining is a U.S. citizen, however, you should inquire further about nationality so as to determine whether any consular
notification obligations apply.
Q. Short of asking all detainees about their nationality, how might I know that someone is a foreign national?
A. A foreign national may present a foreign passport or an alien registration document as identification. If they present a
document that indicates birth outside the United States, or claim to have been born outside the United States, they may be
a foreign national. (Most, but not all, persons born in the United States are U.S. citizens; most, but not all, persons born
outside the United States are not.) Unfamiliarity with English may also indicate foreign nationality. Such indicators could
be a basis for asking the person whether he/she is a foreign national.
Q. What about undocumented and "illegal" aliens?
A. All foreign nationals are entitled to consular notification and access, regardless of their visa or immigration status in
the United States. Thus "illegal" aliens have the same rights to consular assistance as do "legal" aliens. There is no reason,
for purposes of consular notification, to inquire into a person's legal status in the United States.
Q. What about dual nationals?
A. A person who is a national/citizen of two or more countries other than the United States should be treated in accordance with the rules applicable to each of those countries.
A person who is a citizen of the United States and an-other country may be treated exclusively as a U.S. citizen when in the
United States. In other words, consular notification is not required if the detainee is a U.S. citizen. This is true even
if the detainee's other country of citizen-ship is a mandatory notification country.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSULAR NOTIFICATION
Q. Who is actually responsible for notification?
A. The responsibility for consular notification, whether in the case of an arrest and detention, a death, or the appointment
of a guardian for a foreign national, lies with what are generally called "competent authorities." This term is understood
to mean those officials, whether federal, state, or local, who are responsible for legal action affecting the foreign national
and who are competent, within their legal authorities, to give the notification required. This interpretation makes sense
as a practical matter: compliance with the notification requirements works best when it is assumed by those government officials
closest to the foreign national's situation and with direct responsibility for it.
Q. Who is responsible for notification of arrests and detentions?
A. The law enforcement officers who actually make the arrest or who assume responsibility for the alien's detention ordinarily
should make the notification.
Q. What is the responsibility of judicial officials and prosecutors for notification of arrests and detentions?
A. Because they do not hold foreign nationals in custody, judicial officials and prosecutors are not responsible for notification.
The Department of State nevertheless encourages judicial officials who preside over arraignments or other initial appearances
of aliens in court to inquire at that time whether the alien has been provided with consular notification as required by the
VCCR and/or any bilateral agreement providing for mandatory notification. The Department also encourages prosecutors to make
similar inquiries. Inquiries such as these will help promote compliance with the consular notification procedures and facilitate
the provision of consular assistance by foreign governments to their nationals.
Q. Who is responsible for notification of deaths and of sea and air wrecks?
A. Notification should be made by the appropriate state or local authority, be it a coroner or a probate court official. In
cases of serious injury, wrecks, accidents, or major disasters (such as an airline crash), the competent authority may vary,
but government officials responsible for such situations should ensure that notification is given when required.
Q. Who is responsible for notification of appointments of guardians?
A. Notification should be made by probate court officials or by representatives of the state or local equivalent of an attorney
general, or by any other appropriate official involved in the guardianship process.
Q. Why are state and local government officials expected to provide such notification?
A. State and local governments must comply with the consular notification and access obligations because these obligations are
embodied in treaties that are the law of the land under the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution. The federal
government, however, would be responsible for a dispute with a foreign government concerning obligations under the relevant
treaties.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT WHEN CONSULAR NOTIFICATION SHOULD BE GIVEN
Q. What kinds of detentions are covered by this obligation?
A. The VCCR provides for informing the foreign national of the right to consular notification and access if the national is
"arrested or committed to prison or to custody pending trial or is detained in any other manner." While there is no explicit
exception for short detentions, the Department of State does not consider it necessary to follow consular notification procedures
when an alien is detained only momentarily, e.g., during a traffic stop. On the other hand, requiring a foreign national to
accompany a law enforcement officer to a place of detention may trigger the consular notification requirements, particularly
if the detention lasts for a number of hours or overnight. The longer a detention continues, the more likely it is that a
reasonable person would conclude that the Article 36 obligation is triggered.
Q. Do we have to inform and notify even when the detention is only while a traffic citation is written, or for a similar brief
time?
A. No. The VCCR on its face requires informing a foreign national that a consular official may be notified whenever a foreign
national is arrested or detained in any manner, without distinguishing arrests that do not result in a significant detention.
The purpose of this requirement, however, is to ensure that a government does not place an alien in a situation in which the
alien cannot receive assistance from his/her own government. When an alien is cited and immediately released, this consideration
is not relevant because the alien is free to contact consular officials independently. The Department of State therefore does
not consider brief routine detentions, such as for traffic violations or accident investigations, to be the type of situation
contemplated by the VCCR.
Q. If we have a foreign national detained in a hospital, do we have to provide consular notification?
A. Yes, if the foreign national is detained pursuant to governmental authority (law enforcement, judicial, or administrative)
and is not free to leave. He/she must be treated like a foreign national in detention, and appropriate notification must be
provided.
Q. Are aliens in immigration detention covered by the consular notification requirement?
A. Yes, as a general matter. Consular notification is provided for in the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in
the Department of Homeland Security's regulations (8 C.F.R. 236.1(e)). The Department of State does not, however, ordinarily
consider aliens who are found inadmissible at a port of entry and required to remain there until they can depart to be detained
within the meaning of the VCCR. Immigration officials may permit such aliens access to consular officials as a matter of discretion,
however--e.g., in situations where the detention becomes prolonged because onward transportation is significantly delayed.
Q. Do I have to give a foreign national consular notification even if I give the Miranda warning?
A. Yes. Consular notification should not be confused with the Miranda warning, which is given regardless of nationality to protect
the individual's constitutional rights against self-incrimination and to the assistance of legal counsel. Consular notification
is given as a result of international legal requirements, so that a foreign government can provide its nationals with whatever
consular assistance it deems appropriate. You should follow consular notification procedures with respect to detained foreign
nationals in addition to providing Miranda or other warnings when required.
Q. If the alien's government is aware of the case and helping with our investigation, should we still go through the process
of notification?
A. Yes. It is important to distinguish between a government's consular officials and other officials, such as law enforcement
officers, who have different functions and responsibilities. Even if law enforcement officials of the alien's country are
aware of the detention and are helping to investigate the crime in which the alien was allegedly involved, it is still important
to ensure that consular notification procedures are followed.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW CONSULAR NOTIFICATION SHOULD BE GIVEN
Q. How quickly do I need to inform the detainee of the right to consular notification?
A. The VCCR requires that a foreign national be notified "without delay" of the right to consular assistance. There should be no deliberate delay, and notification should occur as soon as reasonably possible under the circumstances. Once foreign nationality is known, advising the national of the right to consular notification should follow promptly.
In the case of an arrest followed by a detention, the Department of State would ordinarily expect the foreign national to
have been advised of the possibility of consular notification by the time the foreign national is booked for detention. The
Department encourages judicial authorities to confirm during court appearances of foreign nationals that consular notification
has occurred as required.
Q. Does the notification to the foreign national have to be in writing?
A. No. You may inform the detainee orally or in writing. Providing the notification in writing may be helpful, however, particularly
when the foreign national does not clearly understand English. A sample notification statement is on page 7 of this booklet;
translations of the statement into a number of foreign languages are in Part Four. In addition, the Department of State strongly
recommends that a written record of the fact of notification be maintained.
Q. If the foreign national requests that consular officials be notified, how quickly do I have to do so?
A. This notification should also occur "without delay" after the foreign national has requested that it be made. The Department
of State also considers "without delay" here to mean that there should be no deliberate delay, and that notification should
occur as soon as reasonably possible under the circumstances. The Department of State would normally expect notification to
consular officials to have been made within 24 hours, and certainly within 72 hours. On the other hand, the Department does
not normally consider notification of arrests and detentions to be required outside of a consulate's regular working hours.
In some cases, however, it will be possible and convenient to leave a message on an answering machine at the consulate or
to send a fax even though the consulate is closed. (If a message is left on an answering machine, the Department of State
encourages a follow-up call during normal business hours to ensure that it was received.) In addition, in cases of emergencies
(such as deaths or serious accidents), efforts should be made to contact consular officials outside of normal hours.
Q. In the case of a "mandatory notification" country, how quickly must the notification be provided to consular officials?
A. The bilateral agreements that provide for mandatory notification use such formulations as "without delay" and "immediately."
A few provide that notification should occur immediately and not later than within two, three, or four days. Thus, the same
guidance as above would generally apply: there should be no deliberate delay, and notification should occur as soon as reasonably
possible under the circumstances.
Q. Can we simplify the process by always notifying consular officials, regardless of the alien's wishes, instead of worrying
about which countries are "optional" and which are "mandatory?"
A. No. You should not adopt a policy of notifying consular officers in every case regardless of whether notification is mandatory.
The VCCR provides for giving the foreign national the option of having consular officials notified in part because of a concern
that some foreign nationals will not want the fact of their arrest or detention disclosed unnecessarily. In some cases, a
foreign national may be afraid of his/her government and may wish to apply for refugee status/asylum in the United States.
The privacy wishes of the foreign national should therefore be respected unless there is a mandatory notification requirement.
Only in mandatory notification cases should you notify consular officials regardless of the alien's wishes.
Q. When we notify the consulate, should we tell them the reasons for the detention?
A. Generally you may use your discretion in deciding how much information to provide consistent with privacy considerations
and the applicable international agreements. Under the VCCR, the reasons for the detention do not have to be provided in the
initial communication. The detainee may or may not want this information communicated. Thus we suggest that it not be provided
unless requested specifically by the consular officer, or if the detainee authorizes the disclosure. Different requirements
may apply if there is a relevant bilateral agreement. (Some of the bilateral agreements require that the reasons for the detention
be provided upon request.) If a consular official insists that he/she is entitled to information about an alien that the alien
does not want disclosed, the Department of State can provide guidance.
Q. Isn't it wrong to follow "mandatory notification" procedures if the alien doesn't want his consular officials notified?
What about the alien's privacy interests? What if the alien is afraid of his own government?
A. If the alien is from a "mandatory notification" country, notification must be given even if the alien objects or claims to
be afraid. If the alien is an asylum seeker, arrangements can be made to protect the alien while ensuring that his/her government's
right to notification is protected. Under no circumstances should the fact that a foreign national has applied for asylum
or withholding of removal be revealed to that national's government. Specific guidance on such cases may be obtained from
the Department of State.
Q. If the foreign national is from a "mandatory notification" country and I notify the consulate as required, should I tell
the foreign national?
A. Yes. The alien should always be told that his consulate has been notified. While the mandatory notification agreements generally
do not expressly require that the national be informed of such notification, informing the national is provided for in the
VCCR. Most countries with which the United States has a bilateral agreement also belong to the VCCR.
Q. Can I comply with consular notification requirements by simply letting the detained alien have access to a telephone?
A. Not necessarily. It is the responsibility of the government officials responsible for the detention to ensure that consular
notification is made. If the alien is from a mandatory notification country, you must ensure that notification is given to
the consular officials; permitting the alien access to a phone, without taking further action, will not be sufficient for
this purpose. If the alien is not from a mandatory notification country but wants consular notification, simply making a phone
available also may not be sufficient. There must be adequate arrangements to ensure that the alien is actually able to make
contact with his/her consular officials, and the responsible law enforcement officials must be able to confirm that contact
was in fact made.
Q. Is there a guiding principle I can follow in applying the consular notification requirements?
A. Yes. Remember, always, that these are mutual obligations. In general, you should treat the foreign national as you would
want an American citizen to be treated in a similar situation in a foreign country. This means prompt, courteous notification
to the foreign national of the possibility of consular assistance, and prompt, courteous notification to the foreign national's
nearest consular officials so that they can perform whatever consular services they deem appropriate.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT FAILURE TO NOTIFY
Q. If we failed to provide notification at the time of arrest and the alien is still in custody, what should we do?
A. Consular notification is "better late than never." You should follow the instructions in this booklet as soon as you become
aware that a foreign national is in detention but consular notification procedures were not followed. A foreign government
may commence providing consular assistance at any time, and should be given the opportunity to do so.
Q. If we failed to provide consular notification but the alien is receiving consular assistance, should we still go through
the process of notification?
A. If the foreign national has already established contact with his/her consular officials, the Department of State does not
consider it necessary to remedy a failure to provide consular notification by going through the procedures described in this
booklet. The consular notification procedures are a mechanism to ensure that a foreign government can provide consular assistance
to its nationals who are detained. Once the foreign government's consular officials are aware of the detention it is not necessary,
for the mere sake of formality, to follow consular notification procedures. If the foreign government officials involved are
not consular officials, however (e.g., if they are law enforcement officials), then consular notification procedures should
still be followed.
Q. If we failed to provide consular notification and the alien has already been released from detention, should we still go
through the process of notification?
A. If the alien is still involved in proceedings related to the reasons for which he/she was originally detained, the Department
of State would recommend that he/she be advised of the possibility of consular assistance even if no longer detained, because
consular assistance could still be useful. If proceedings against the alien have ended, so that consular assistance is unlikely
to have any continuing relevance, the Department does not consider that it is necessary to provide notification.
Q. What is the remedy if we failed to give consular notification?
A. If the foreign national is still in detention, you should provide notification as soon as you become aware that it was not provided. This will ensure that the foreign government is given the opportunity to provide consular assistance for the remaining period of detention.
If the Department of State receives a complaint that consular notification was not provided, it will take appropriate action. For example, the Department may request the relevant facts from the detaining federal, state, or local authority; discuss the matter with the foreign government involved; apologize on behalf of the Government of the United States to the concerned foreign government for a failure to provide consular notification; intervene to ensure that consular access is permitted; or seek to work with the involved federal, state, or local detaining officials to improve future compliance.
Some aliens are attempting to obtain judicial remedies (such as new trials or sentencing hearings) for failures to give notification.
Others have sought executive clemency. For further information on these developments, consult with the appropriate federal
or state authorities, or call the Department of State.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT CONSULAR ACCESS AND ASSISTANCE
Q. What can we expect a consular officer to do once notified?
A. A consular officer may do a variety of things to assist a foreign national. The consular officer may speak with the detained foreign national over the phone and/or arrange one or more consular visits to meet with the detainee about his/her situation and needs. A consular officer may assist in arranging legal representation, monitor the progress of the case, and seek to ensure that the foreign national receives a fair trial (e.g., by working with the detainee's lawyer, communicating with prosecutors, or observing the trial). The consular officer may speak with prison authorities about the detainee's conditions of confinement, and may bring the detainee reading material, food, medicine, or other necessities, if permitted by prison regulations. A consular officer frequently will be in touch with the detainee's family, particularly if they are in the country of origin, to advise them of the detainee's situation, morale, and other relevant information.
The actual services provided by a consular officer will vary in light of numerous factors, including the foreign country's
level of representation in the United States and available resources. For example, some countries have only an Embassy in
Washington, DC, and will rarely be able to visit their nationals imprisoned in locations remote from there. Other countries
have consulates located in many major U.S. cities and may regularly perform prison visits throughout the United States. Each
country has discretion in deciding what level of consular services it will actually provide.
Q. Can we rely on the consular officer to arrange for legal counsel?
A. No. If the foreign national has a right to counsel and requests that he/she be given a court-appointed lawyer, the usual
process of arranging counsel should be followed. While a consular officer is permitted to assist in arranging counsel, the
consular officer may or may not actually choose to take such action.
Q. Is a consular officer entitled to act as legal counsel for a detained alien?
A. No. Consular officers are not permitted to practice law in the United States. They may, however, participate in litigation
as "friends of the court," and they may assist an alien and his/her legal counsel in preparation of the alien's defense.
Q. Do I have to permit a consular officer to have access to a detainee?
A. Yes. Consular officers are entitled to visit and to communicate with their detained nationals. This is true even if the foreign
national has not requested a visit. The consular officer must refrain from taking action on behalf of the foreign national
if so requested by the national, however.
Q. Are consular officers entitled to visit whenever they want to?
A. No. Law enforcement authorities may make reasonable regulations about the time, place, and manner of consular visits to detained
foreign nationals. Those regulations cannot, however, be so restrictive that the purpose of consular assistance is defeated.
These matters are addressed in Article 36 of the VCCR. The Department urges law enforcement authorities to grant foreign consular
officials liberal access to detained persons, granting the consular officer every courtesy and facility consistent with local
laws and regulations. Liberal visiting privileges are particularly important when consular officers have to travel long distances
to visit their nationals.
Q. Do consular officers have to comply with prison security regulations?
A. Yes. If the consular officer questions having to follow a particular security rule, the consular officer should be advised
to address the question to the Department of State. Such questions may arise occasionally because, while not exempt from security
regulations, under rules relating to the privileges and immunities of diplomatic and consular officers, consular officers
conducting prison visits are entitled to be treated with respect.
Q. Can a consular officer be subject to search prior to visiting a prisoner?
A. Yes. Even though a consular officer has certain privileges and immunities, the officer must comply with applicable prison
security rules. On the other hand, because a consular officer is entitled to be treated with respect, any search of a consular
officer should not be unnecessarily intrusive.
Q. Is a consular officer entitled to meet privately with a detained foreign national?
A. Yes, as a general rule. The VCCR entitles consular officers to converse with their nationals. It does not explicitly state
that such conversations may be private, but some of the bilateral agreements do contain such explicit requirements. The Department
of State believes that consular officers should normally be able to converse in private. This does not mean, however, that
the conversation cannot be observed for security reasons.
If a consular officer insists upon a private meeting but the detained national objects to meeting privately, you should seek
guidance from the Department of State.
Q. Is there a guiding principle I can follow in providing consular access?
A. Yes. Remember, always, that these are mutual obligations. In general, you should permit a consular officer the same access
to a foreign national that you would want an American consular officer to have to an American citizen in a similar situation
in a foreign country.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT CONTACTING THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Q. Do we need to notify the U.S. Department of State when we detain a foreign national?
A. No. Your obligations are to inform the detainee of the right to consular notification, and to make the notification to the
detainee's embassy or consulate if the detainee requests or if the detainee is from a "mandatory notification" country. You
do not need to inform the State Department about the detention, and in fact we generally prefer that you not do so, since
informing the State Department often causes confusion about whether the foreign consulate has been informed properly in a
timely manner. On the other hand, it may be appropriate to in-form us of unusual cases, provided that this is not done in
lieu of making any required notification to a foreign consulate. Also, if you have questions about the VCCR consular notification
obligation or related matters, the Department stands ready to help with information and advice.
Q. How can I get answers to other questions?
A. Additional inquiries may be directed to the Office of Public Affairs and Policy Coordination for Consular Affairs, CA/P, Room 6831, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520; telephone number 202-647-4415; facsimile number 202-736-7559. Urgent telephone inquiries after regular business hours may be directed to the State Department Operations Center, 202-647-1512.
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