To direct the President to submit to Congress a report on fugitives currently residing in other countries whose extradition is sought by the United States and related matters, and for other purposes.

Christopher H. Smith

Republican · NJ · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL-12)Original· 2026-06-08

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

2026-06-08

Source: Congress.gov

The President would be required to provide Congress with a detailed report listing people who have fled the United States and are now living in other countries while facing criminal charges or extradition requests from the U.S. government. The report would help lawmakers understand which fugitives are abroad, what crimes they're accused of, and the status of efforts to bring them back to face justice. This affects law enforcement agencies, international relations, and the countries where these fugitives are currently located.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

119 HR 9202 IH: Walter Patterson Justice and Extradition Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-06-08 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I119th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 9202IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJune 8, 2026Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. Bilirakis) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign AffairsA BILLTo direct the President to submit to Congress a report on fugitives currently residing in other countries whose extradition is sought by the United States and related matters, and for other purposes. 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Walter Patterson Justice and Extradition Act. 2.Findings and purpose (a)FindingsCongress finds the following: (1)Extradition is the formal surrender of a person by one state to another state for prosecution or punishment. (2)Refusal by other nations to extradite or otherwise render to the United States fugitives within their jurisdiction who have been convicted of committing crimes on United States soil impedes the judicial process and undermines the rule of law. (3)The United States has bilateral extradition treaties with more than 100 nations and an extradition agreement with the European Union, including Portugal. (4)The failure to bring criminal fugitives to justice in the United States is an affront to the victims of those crimes. (5)The refusal of Portugal, a close ally and good friend of the United States, to extradite George Wright, convicted of the 1962 murder of Walter Patterson, fugitive from justice since his 1970 escape from the Bayside State Prison in New Jersey, is a deplorable example of a failure to extradite, and has caused ongoing suffering and stress to Mr. Patterson’s surviving family and friends. (6)The refusal to extradite George Wright is emblematic of a number of such refusals from other nations, such that United States policies and efforts to secure extradition and the extradition policies of countries from which the United States seeks extradition and rendition bear further examination. (7)Such examination will be promoted by the issuance of a public report on the status of extradition requests by the United States and related matters. (b)PurposeThe purpose of this Act is to provide information necessary to evaluate and thereby strengthen United States Government efforts to extradite fugitives. 3.Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that in meetings with foreign officials of countries from which the United States seeks the extradition of fugitives, United States ambassadors and other senior officials should prioritize advocacy on fulfilling United States extradition requests, including extradition of George Wright, an escaped convict and the murderer of Walter Patterson of New Jersey. 4.Report (a)In generalNot later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and not later than the end of each 12-month period thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the following: (1)The number of fugitives, and others with respect to whom the United States Government is seeking extradition or rendition, currently residing in other countries whose extradition is sought by the United States and a list of those countries. (2)Diplomatic and other efforts, if any, the United States has undertaken to secure the return of such fugitives. (3)The average length of time these cases have been outstanding. (4)How many of these cases have been resolved to the satisfaction of the United States. (5)Factors that have been barriers to the resolution of these cases. (6)Information on the number of United States citizens whose extradition has been sought by other countries during the past five years, a list of those…

countries seeking such extradition, and the outcomes of those requests. (b)FormThe report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex if necessary. (c)DefinitionIn this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1)the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and (2)the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.

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