7 FAM 200 APPENDIX F
DEATHS OF FOREIGN NATIONALS IN THE UNITED STATES
(CT:CON-804; 04-30-2018)
(Office of Origin: CA/OCS)
7 FAM 210 Appendix F INTRODUCTION
(CT:CON-171; 05-30-2007)
a. All levels of law enforcement must ensure that
foreign governments can extend appropriate consular services to their nationals
in the United States and that the United States complies with its legal
obligations to such governments. It is essential that U.S. citizens be offered the same consular services when they are detained abroad. To
require that of other countries, we must be certain we provide this courtesy
here in the United States.
b. One significant aspect of this cooperation concerns
notification of foreign embassies and consulates of the deaths of their
nationals in the United States.
c. Death notification is usually provided to foreign
embassies and consulates directly by U.S. medical examiners, law enforcement
officials, coroners or other local authorities to the foreign embassy or
consulate in the United States.
d. When it is necessary for the Department of State to
communicate with foreign embassies or consulates regarding the deaths of
foreign nationals in the United States, this is done by the desk officer in the
regional geographic bureau or after hours, by the regional bureau duty officer.
e. If the deceased foreign national has privileges and
immunities, the identification cards issued by Protocol list a Protocol phone
number for business hours and a Diplomatic Security (DS) Command center number
for all after hours calls. DS and Protocol will coordinate with the Operations
Center and the Regional Bureau duty officers as appropriate.
7 FAM 220 Appendix F AUTHORITIES
(CT:CON-171; 05-30-2007)
a. Article 37 of the Vienna Convention on Consular
Relations (VCCR) requires notification by host country officials in the event
of the death of a foreign national. (See Treaties in Force.)
b. Many bilateral consular conventions include similar
provisions. See the bilateral consular conventions feature on the Consular
Affairs Internet page and the treaties feature on the Consular Affairs Intranet
page, and Treaties in Force.
7 FAM 230 Appendix F DEPARTMENT OF
STATE OUTREACH TO U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES REGARDING CONSULAR
NOTIFICATION
(CT:CON-171; 05-30-2007)
a. The Bureau of Consular Affairs Office of Public
Affairs and Policy Coordination (CA/P) has an outreach program for U.S.
law enforcement authorities regarding the consular notification and access
requirements of the VCCR and bilateral consular conventions. This includes
extensive written information.
b. Information about consular notification and outreach
is also available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web page.
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Other CA Materials:
Consular Notification and Access Program Summary
Suggested Fax Sheet for Notifying Foreign Consular
Officers of Deaths or Serious Injuries
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c. Questions: Address questions about the program to:
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Office of Public Affairs and Policy Coordination for
Consular Affairs
CA/P, Room 4800
U.S. Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
Telephone: 202-647-4415; Fax: 202-736-7559
Email: consnot@state.gov
For urgent telephone inquiries after normal business
hours, you may call the State Department Operations Center at 202-647-1512.
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7 FAM 240 APPENDIX F DEPARTMENT OF
STATE COORDINATION WITH FOREIGN MISSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT NOTIFICATION
REGARDING DEATHS OF FOREIGN NATIONALS IN THE UNITED STATES
(CT:CON-171; 05-30-2007)
a. Notification of a foreign embassy or consulate in
the United States of the death of a foreign national in the United States is generally done directly by local medical examiners, coroners, law
enforcement officials or other authorities.
b. When the Department of State becomes aware of the
death of a foreign national in the United States, the desk officers in the
regional bureaus generally serve as the primary point of contact for foreign
diplomatic and consular officers. After hours, this service is provided by the
duty officers for the regional geographic bureaus.
c. Inquiries from foreign governments about how to
obtain an official notification of the foreign nationals death from the
appropriate U.S. authorities or problems obtaining copies of death certificates
should be directed to CA/P.
7 FAM 250 Appendix F LARGE SCALE
DISASTERS OR CRITICAL INCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES
(CT:CON-171; 05-30-2007)
a. In the event of a large scale disaster or incident,
such as an earthquake, hurricane, aviation or other transportation disaster, or
terrorist incident in the United States, the Department may convene a task
force to coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and other pertinent federal, state
and local agencies.
b. Posts will be advised if such a task force is
convened and how to convey information to the host government regarding foreign
national victims in the United States.
c. 7 FAM 1839
provides guidance about the role of the Department of State regarding domestic
aviation disasters.
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CA Intranet Library:
You will find historical materials on the CA Intranet
Crisis Management Cable Library. This includes, for example, instructions
regarding identifying foreign victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and
expedited death certificate procedures for missing World Trade
Center victims whose next of kin were overseas.
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