What law serves as the statutory foundation for the Coast Guard's law enforcement mission?

The law that serves as the statutory foundation for the Coast Guard's law enforcement mission is found in Title 14 of the United States Code, specifically 14 USC 2. This statute grants the Coast Guard the authority to enforce all applicable federal laws on the high seas and waters over which the United States has jurisdiction. It encompasses a broad range of enforcement activities that support the Coast Guard's role in ensuring maritime safety, security, and environmental protection.

This particular statute is crucial because it clearly establishes the Coast Guard as a federal law enforcement agency with specific responsibilities, including the enforcement of laws related to maritime security, fisheries, environmental protection, and immigration. Therefore, 14 USC 2 provides the legal basis that empowers Coast Guard personnel, including boarding teams, to carry out their duties in compliance with the law.

The other laws mentioned, while they may pertain to certain aspects of maritime regulation or law enforcement, do not serve as the overarching foundation for the Coast Guard’s law enforcement mission in the same way that 14 USC 2 does. For instance, 18 USC 34 relates to crimes regarding certain injuries to vessels, but it does not provide the broad authority for law enforcement. Similarly, 33 USC 1321 focuses on oil and hazardous