President Obama Lifted Limitations of Diplomatic Immunity for the International Police Organization INTERPOL-Truth!
Summary of eRumor:
This is a forwarded email that says that President Obama has granted “diplomatic immunity” to the International Criminal Police Organization better known as INTERPOL.
The Truth:
President Obama amended Executive Order 12425 on December 16, 2009 which was originally written and authorized by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. Executive Order 12425 recognized the International Criminal Police Organization or INTERPOL as a public organization and granted them certain privileges and immunities. The amendment written by President Obama lifted the limitations set down by Reagan and Interpol’s property and assets will no longer being subject to search and confiscation. Also, the archived records of the international police organization would be exempt from U.S. inspection. The amendment is posted on the White House Website. Click for Executive Order.
According to the article listed in the United States Code 288, the President of the United States has the authority to grant diplomatic privileges to international organizations.
The original Executive Order 12425 by President Reagan recognized INTERPOL but set limitations:
Executive Order 12425 of June 16, 1983
International Criminal Police Organizations
By virtue of the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and statutes of the United States, including Section 1 of the International Organizations Immunities Act (59 Stat. 669, 22 U.S.C. 288), it is hereby ordered that the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), in which the United States participates pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 263a, is hereby designated as a public international organization entitled to enjoy the privileges, exemptions and immunities conferred by the International Organizations Immunities Act; except those provided by Section 2(c), the portions of Section 2(d) and Section 3 relating to customs duties and federal internal-revenue importation taxes, Section 4, Section 5, and Section 6 of that Act. This designation is not intended to abridge in any respect the privileges, exemptions or immunities which such organization may have acquired or may acquire by international agreement or by Congressional action.
Ronald Reagan
The White House,
June 16, 1983.
The December 16, 2009 amendment by President Obama says:
Executive Order — Amending Executive Order 12425
EXECUTIVE ORDER
AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER 12425 DESIGNATING INTERPOL AS A PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION ENTITLED TO ENJOY CERTAIN PRIVILEGES, EXEMPTIONS, AND IMMUNITIES
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 1 of the International Organizations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288), and in order to extend the appropriate privileges, exemptions, and immunities to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), it is hereby ordered that Executive Order 12425 of June 16, 1983, as amended, is further amended by deleting from the first sentence the words “except those provided by Section 2(c), Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, and Section 6 of that Act” and the semicolon that immediately precedes them.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 16, 2009.
This is not the first time that the Reagan Executive Order has been amended. According to the federal archives it was last amended in September 15, 1995 by President William J. Clinton:
Executive Order 12971 of September 15, 1995
Amendment to Executive Order No. 12425
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to extend the appropriate privileges, exemptions, and immunities upon the International Criminal Police Organization (‘‘INTERPOL’’) it is hereby ordered that Executive Order No. 12425 be amended by deleting, in the first sentence, the words ‘‘the portions of Section 2(d) and’’ and the words ‘‘relating to customs duties and federal internal-revenue importation taxes’’.
William J. Clinton
The White House,
September 15, 1995.
updated 12/28/09