Number: RS22748
Title: The Circumstances In Which an Officer May Ask Questions Concerning Alienage
Authors: Yule Kim, American Law Division 
Abstract: This report provides an overview of the circumstances in which a law enforcement officer may ask questions concerning alienage. Generally, any officer may freely ask someone questions about his or her alienage status so long as the individual can refuse to answer. However, if questioning is sufficiently coercive, it can rise to the level of a Fourth Amendment seizure, which, depending on the circumstances, requires either probable cause or reasonable suspicion to justify. This report does not discuss custodial interrogations. No bills addressing this issue are currently pending.
Pages: 6
Date: January 15, 2008