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<h2 id="consular-and-diplomatic-immunity-in-the-us">Consular and diplomatic immunity in the US</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th colspan="2">Category</th><th>May be arrested or detained</th><th>Residence may be entered subject to ordinary procedures</th><th>May be issued traffic ticket</th><th>May be subpoenaed as witness</th><th>May be prosecuted for unofficial acts</th><th>Official family member</th></tr><tr><th rowspan="3">Diplomatic</th><th>Diplomatic agent</th><td>No<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a></td><td>No</td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td><td>Same as sponsor</td></tr><tr><th>Member of administrative and technical staff</th><td>No<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a></td><td>No</td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td><td>Same as sponsor</td></tr><tr><th>Service staff</th><td>Yes<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a></td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></td><td>No<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a></td></tr><tr><th rowspan="3">Consular</th><th>Career consular officers</th><td>Yes, if for a felony and pursuant to a warrant.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></td><td>Yes<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No, for official acts. Testimony may not be compelled in any case.</td><td>Yes<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></td><td>No<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></td></tr><tr><th>Honorary consular officers</th><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>No, for official acts. Yes, in all other cases</td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><th>Consular employees</th><td>Yes<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>No, for official acts. Yes, in all other cases</td><td>Yes<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a></td><td>No<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></td></tr><tr><th rowspan="3">International organization</th><th>Diplomatic-level staff of missions to international organizations</th><td>No<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></td><td>No</td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>No</td><td>Same as sponsor</td></tr><tr><th>International organization staff<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a></th><td>Yes<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a></td><td>Yes<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></td><td>Yes</td><td>No, for official acts. Yes, in all other cases</td><td>Yes<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a></td><td>No<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a></td></tr><tr><th>Support staff of missions to international organizations</th><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>No, for official acts. Yes, in all other cases</td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td colspan="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Procedure</h3> <p>Procedurally, official acts immunity is raised as an <a href="/facts/Affirmative_defense/7Vz1Hvs8">affirmative defense</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Diplomatic_immunity/sKLq0WNj">Diplomatic immunity</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Vienna_Convention_on_Consular_Relations/jCx41pI1">Vienna Convention on Consular Relations</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://2009-2017.state.gov/m/ds/c9127.htm">U.S. Department of State - Legal Aspects of Diplomatic Immunity and Privileges</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070326124130/http://www.usdiplomacy.org/diplomacytoday/law/immunity.php">U.S. Diplomacy - Diplomatic and Consular Immunity</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2011-02-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813152744/http://cil.nus.edu.sg/rp/il/pdf/1963%20Vienna%20Convention%20on%20Consular%20Relations-pdf.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20110813152744/http://cil.nus.edu.sg/rp/il/pdf/1963%20Vienna%20Convention%20on%20Consular%20Relations-pdf.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>http://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_2_1963.pdf [bare URL PDF] <a href="http://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_2_1963.pdf" target="_blank">http://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_2_1963.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Reasonable constraints, however, may be applied in emergency circumstances involving self-defense, public safety, or the prevention of serious criminal acts. <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Reasonable constraints, however, may be applied in emergency circumstances involving self-defense, public safety, or the prevention of serious criminal acts. <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>This table presents general rules. Particularly in the cases indicated, the employees of certain foreign countries may enjoy higher levels of privileges and immunities on the basis of special bilateral agreements. <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>This table presents general rules. Particularly in the cases indicated, the employees of certain foreign countries may enjoy higher levels of privileges and immunities on the basis of special bilateral agreements. <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>This table presents general rules. Particularly in the cases indicated, the employees of certain foreign countries may enjoy higher levels of privileges and immunities on the basis of special bilateral agreements. <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>This table presents general rules. Particularly in the cases indicated, the employees of certain foreign countries may enjoy higher levels of privileges and immunities on the basis of special bilateral agreements. <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Note that consular residences are sometimes located within the official consular premises. In such cases, only the official office space is protected from police entry. <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>A small number of senior officers are entitled to be treated identically to "diplomatic agents". <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>This table presents general rules. Particularly in the cases indicated, the employees of certain foreign countries may enjoy higher levels of privileges and immunities on the basis of special bilateral agreements. <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>This table presents general rules. Particularly in the cases indicated, the employees of certain foreign countries may enjoy higher levels of privileges and immunities on the basis of special bilateral agreements. <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>This table presents general rules. Particularly in the cases indicated, the employees of certain foreign countries may enjoy higher levels of privileges and immunities on the basis of special bilateral agreements. <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>This table presents general rules. Particularly in the cases indicated, the employees of certain foreign countries may enjoy higher levels of privileges and immunities on the basis of special bilateral agreements. <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Reasonable constraints, however, may be applied in emergency circumstances involving self-defense, public safety, or the prevention of serious criminal acts. <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>A small number of senior officers are entitled to be treated identically to "diplomatic agents". <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>A small number of senior officers are entitled to be treated identically to "diplomatic agents". <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>A small number of senior officers are entitled to be treated identically to "diplomatic agents". <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>A small number of senior officers are entitled to be treated identically to "diplomatic agents". <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>This table presents general rules. Particularly in the cases indicated, the employees of certain foreign countries may enjoy higher levels of privileges and immunities on the basis of special bilateral agreements. <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>Bureau of Diplomatic Security (July 2011). "Diplomatic and Consular Immunity: Guidance for Law Enforcement and Judicial Authorities" (PDF). US Department of State. p. 6. Retrieved 2013-12-30. <a href="/wiki/Bureau_of_Diplomatic_Security" target="_blank">/wiki/Bureau_of_Diplomatic_Security</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>