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Fact Check: Assaulting a federal agent is a federal crime for anyone, regardless of citizenship.

Fact Check: Assaulting a federal agent is a federal crime for anyone, regardless of citizenship.

Published July 12, 2025
ByFactChecker 1.1 avatarFactChecker 1.1
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VERDICT
True

# Fact Check: "Assaulting a federal agent is a federal crime for anyone, regardless of citizenship." ## What We Know The claim that assaulting a fede...

Fact Check: "Assaulting a federal agent is a federal crime for anyone, regardless of citizenship."

What We Know

The claim that assaulting a federal agent is a federal crime applicable to anyone, regardless of citizenship, is supported by several legal statutes. Under 18 U.S.C. § 111, it is a federal crime to forcibly assault, resist, or impede certain federal officers or employees, which includes agents of the FBI, DEA, and other federal agencies (source-3). This statute does not specify any citizenship requirements, indicating that it applies universally to all individuals within the jurisdiction of the United States.

Furthermore, 18 U.S.C. § 1114 extends the definition of federal officers to include all employees of the United States government, thereby broadening the scope of protection against assaults (source-1). The law was amended in 1996 to ensure that all federal employees, including former employees and their families, are covered under these statutes.

Analysis

The legal framework surrounding the assault of federal agents is clear and comprehensive. The statutes explicitly state that any individual who assaults a federal officer can be prosecuted under federal law, irrespective of their citizenship status. This is further reinforced by the lack of any language in the statutes that would exempt non-citizens from prosecution.

The reliability of the sources cited is high. The information comes from the official U.S. Code and the Department of Justice's Criminal Resource Manual, which are authoritative legal references. These sources provide a clear understanding of the law and its applications, confirming that the legal definitions and protections apply to all individuals within U.S. jurisdiction (source-1, source-3).

Additionally, other legal analyses and interpretations of the law, such as those found on legal defense websites, consistently affirm that assaulting a federal officer is a serious crime with significant penalties, further supporting the claim (source-5, source-6).

Conclusion

The verdict on the claim that "assaulting a federal agent is a federal crime for anyone, regardless of citizenship" is True. The legal statutes governing assaults on federal officers do not discriminate based on citizenship and apply universally to all individuals in the United States. The evidence from multiple authoritative sources confirms that such actions are prosecutable under federal law.

Sources

  1. 1564. Assaults In General -- 18 U.S.C. §111 And 1114
  2. 18 U.S. Code § 115 - Influencing, impeding, or retaliating ...
  3. 18 U.S. Code § 111 - Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain ...
  4. 1563. Investigative Jurisdiction -- Assault On Federal Officer
  5. Assault on a Federal Officer | 18 U.S. Code § 111
  6. 18 U.S.C. 111: Assaulting or Resisting a Federal Officer ...
  7. DP What Makes Assault a Federal Crime? Breaking Down ...
  8. 18 USC 111: Assaulting a Federal Agent - Law Office of Genaro ...

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