Appendix G: State Department Contact Information

• Author: Ken Wallentine
• Pages: 314-314

314 STREET LEGAL: A GUIDE TO PRE-TRIAL CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Appendix G:

State Department Contact Information

The best way to notify the State Department of an arrest of a foreign

national is a phone call, immediately followed with a faxed copy

of the arrest report. They can be reached at:

Office of the Assistant Legal Adviser for Consular Affairs L/CA,

Room 5527A

U.S. Department of State

Washington, D.C. 20520

Phone 202-647-4415 Fax 202-736-7559

For urgent matters after business hours, officers may call the State

Department Operations Center at 202-647-1512. The State Depart-

ment also distributes, at no cost, pocket cards with phone numbers of

the State Department help desk, sample language to inform detain-

ees of VCCR and treaty rights, and a list of mandatory notification

nations.

Following are the VCCR notices suggested by the State Department:

When Consular Notification is at the Foreign National’s Option

As a non-U.S. citizen who is being arrested or detained, you are en-

titled to have us notify your country’s consular representatives here in

the United States. A consular official from your country may be able

to help you obtain legal counsel, and may contact your family and

visit you in detention, among other things. If you want us to notify

your country’s consular officials, you can request this notification now,

or at any time in the future. After your consular officials are notified,

they may call or visit you. Do you want us to notify your country’s

consular officials?

When Consular Notification is Mandatory

Because of your nationality, we are required to notify your country’s

consular representatives here in the United States that you have been

arrested or detained. After your consular officials are notified, they

may call or visit you. You are not required to accept their assistance,

but they may be able to help you obtain legal counsel and may con-

tact your family and visit you in detention, among other things. We

will be notifying your country’s consular officials as soon as possible.