International Extradition Defense Lawyer in Dallas, Texas
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An extradition request means a foreign country has formally asked the United States to arrest you and surrender you to face prosecution or serve a sentence abroad.
Or it means the U.S. government wants you returned from a foreign country to answer federal criminal charges here.
Either way, you are now labeled a fugitive in the eyes of two governments, and the machinery working against you is unlike anything in an ordinary criminal case.
Extradition proceedings are governed by bilateral extradition treaties, international law, and federal statutes like 18 U.S.C. § 3184, not by the rules you might expect from a state criminal court.
You can be taken into custody on a provisional arrest warrant before the requesting country has even submitted its full evidence, and release on bail is rare in extradition cases because courts apply a presumption against it.
People who treat an extradition request like a normal arrest miss the narrow procedural windows where these cases are actually won.
What you need is a federal defense attorney who understands how extradition treaties, the Department of Justice, and the Department of State each control a different piece of your fate.
How Michael Lowe Can Help You Fight Extradition to or From the United States
You need more than a criminal lawyer, you need a federal criminal defense strategy built around the treaty, the statute, and the diplomatic channels driving your case.
Michael Lowe provides extradition defense for U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, with nationwide representation available in federal jurisdictions across the country.
He can help with the following areas:
Defense Against Extradition From the United States
If a foreign country has requested your surrender, your case will be heard by a magistrate judge or U.S. district court under 18 U.S.C. § 3184.
Michael Lowe contests the government’s evidence at the extradition hearing and holds the requesting country to every requirement of the treaty.
Defense Against Extradition to the United States
If federal prosecutors want you returned to face criminal charges in a U.S. court, the case against you is already being built while you’re abroad.
Michael Lowe coordinates with foreign counsel and local counsel in the country where you’re located while preparing your federal criminal defense at home, including negotiations with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Provisional Arrest and Detention Defense
A provisional arrest, often initiated through diplomatic channels by a diplomatic note, can put you in custody before the formal extradition request arrives.
Michael Lowe moves immediately to challenge detention and argue the special circumstances that courts require before granting release on bail in extradition cases.
Challenging the Extradition Request
Not every accusation is an extraditable offense, and treaties contain specific grounds for refusal.
Michael Lowe attacks the request on dual criminality, double jeopardy, the rule of specialty, treaty defects, and the human rights safeguards that protect against unlawful extradition.
Habeas Corpus Petitions
A certification of extraditability can’t be appealed directly, so a habeas corpus petition is the primary path for judicial review.
Michael Lowe prepares habeas challenges that attack the court’s jurisdiction, the treaty’s application, and the sufficiency of the evidence.
Department of State Submissions and Post-Conviction Matters
The Secretary of State makes the final decision on surrender, even after a court certifies extradition.
Michael Lowe presents humanitarian and legal arguments at this stage and advises on post-conviction matters, including prisoner transfer treaties for clients serving sentences abroad.
A Former Prosecutor Who Knows How the Government Builds a Case for Your Surrender
Michael Lowe spent years as a felony prosecutor with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, so he knows how prosecutors assemble the paperwork, affidavits, and probable cause showings that extradition requests depend on, and where those packages fall apart.
He has been Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2007, which tells the Department of Justice lawyers handling your case that every document routed through the Office of International Affairs (OIA) will be challenged.
He has tried more than 150 jury trials, and that trial record changes how federal prosecutors evaluate the risk of litigating against you.
Since 2003, his practice has been 100% criminal defense, including federal cases in the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas and federal matters across the country.
Most criminal defense lawyers will never handle an extradition case, and hiring one who is learning the treaty system on your time is a risk you can’t afford.
Don’t Wait for the Arrest Warrant. Call for a Free Consultation Now
Your freedom, your ability to stay in this country, and your defense against the underlying criminal charges are all decided by what happens in the earliest stages of extradition proceedings.
Once you’re detained, your options narrow fast and the presumption against bail works against you every day you wait.
Michael Lowe offers a free consultation to review the extradition request, the treaty involved, and your strongest grounds for fighting extradition.
Call (214) 526-1900 now to speak with an experienced extradition defense lawyer.
The sooner you act, the more ways there are to challenge the case against you.
Frequently Asked Questions About International Extradition
What is an extradition treaty?
An extradition treaty is a bilateral agreement between two countries that defines when one will surrender an individual to the other to face prosecution or serve a sentence. The United States has extradition treaties with over one hundred foreign countries, listed under 18 U.S.C. § 3181, and without a treaty there is generally no obligation to extradite.
What happens at an extradition hearing?
An extradition hearing is held before a magistrate judge or U.S. district court judge, who decides whether the treaty applies, whether the offense is extraditable, and whether the evidence is sufficient, not whether you’re guilty. If the judge certifies extradition, the case goes to the Secretary of State, who makes the final surrender decision.
Can I be released on bail during extradition proceedings?
Release on bail is rare in extradition cases because there is a presumption against it, and courts grant release only in special circumstances. An experienced extradition defense lawyer can develop the medical, legal, and personal factors that courts have accepted as special circumstances.
What is dual criminality?
Dual criminality means the conduct alleged by the requesting country must be a crime in both countries before it can qualify as an extraditable offense. If the conduct wouldn’t be criminal under U.S. law, that failure is one of the strongest grounds for refusal of an extradition request.
How does the international extradition process work?
The international extradition process begins when the requesting country submits a formal extradition request through diplomatic channels, which the Department of Justice reviews through the Office of International Affairs before federal prosecutors file a complaint and obtain an arrest warrant. The case then proceeds to an extradition hearing before a magistrate judge or U.S. district court, and if the judge certifies extradition, the Secretary of State makes the final decision on surrender.
How much does an international extradition defense lawyer cost?
Legal fees in extradition cases vary with the complexity of the treaty issues, the requesting country, and whether the case involves a habeas corpus petition or coordination with foreign counsel. Michael Lowe offers a free initial consultation, and fees may be structured as fixed fees or hourly rates depending on the matter.
How do I choose an extradition defense lawyer?
Look for a federal defense attorney with real federal court experience, criminal trial credentials, and a working knowledge of extradition treaties and the roles of the Department of Justice and Department of State. Board Certification in Criminal Law and a prosecution background are strong indicators that the rights of the accused will be protected at every stage of the extradition process.
