18 USC § 1588 - Transportation of slaves from United States

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1588"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1588 - Transportation of slaves from United States"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1588"
section_name: "Transportation of slaves from United States"
chapter_number: 77
chapter_name: "PEONAGE, SLAVERY, AND TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 773; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title II, § 218(a), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–573.)"
---


# § 1588. Transportation of slaves from United States

Whoever, being the master or owner or person having charge of any vessel, receives on board any other person with the knowledge or intent that such person is to be carried from any place within the United States to any other place to be held or sold as a slave, or carries away from any place within the United States any such person with the intent that he may be so held or sold as a slave, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 773; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title II, § 218(a), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–573.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 428 (, ).

Words “subject to the jurisdiction of” which appeared twice in this section were omitted and “within” substituted, in view of  defining “United States”.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996— substituted “10 years” for “five years”.

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by  applicable with respect to offenses occurring on or after , see , set out as a note under .