42 USC § 252 - Medical examination of aliens

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s252"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 252 - Medical examination of aliens"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "252"
section_name: "Medical examination of aliens"
chapter_number: 6
chapter_name: "PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES"
part_number: "C"
part_name: "Hospitals, Medical Examinations, and Medical Care"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 325, 58 Stat. 697; 1953 Reorg. Plan No. 1, §§ 5, 8, eff. Apr. 11, 1953, 18 F.R. 2053, 67 Stat. 631.)"
---


# § 252. Medical examination of aliens

The Surgeon General shall provide for making, at places within the United States or in other countries, such physical and mental examinations of aliens as are required by the immigration laws, subject to administrative regulations prescribed by the Attorney General and medical regulations prescribed by the Surgeon General with the approval of the Secretary.

---

**Source Credit**: (July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 325, 58 Stat. 697; 1953 Reorg. Plan No. 1, §§ 5, 8, eff. Apr. 11, 1953, 18 F.R. 2053, 67 Stat. 631.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted in text for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to , which is classified to , Education.

### Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service, transfer of functions, and treatment of related references, see note set out under , Aliens and Nationality.

## Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

Office of Surgeon General abolished by section 3 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, eff. , 31 F.R. 8855, , and functions thereof transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 1 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, set out as a note under . Office of Surgeon General reestablished within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, see Notice of Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, , 52 F.R. 11754.

Functions of Federal Security Administrator transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and all agencies of Federal Security Agency transferred to Department of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 5 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953, set out as a note under . Federal Security Agency and office of Administrator abolished by section 8 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953.