How does the U.S. justice system handle cases involving international extradition?

International extradition is the process by which one country requests the transfer of an individual from another country for the purpose of prosecution or punishment. The United States has extradition treaties with many countries around the world, which govern the process for extraditing individuals between those countries.

When a request for extradition is received by the United States, it is reviewed by the Department of Justice to determine whether the request complies with the relevant extradition treaty and other legal requirements. If the request is approved, a warrant for the arrest of the individual is issued and the individual is taken into custody pending further proceedings.

The individual has the right to challenge the extradition request in court. This may involve a hearing to determine whether the evidence presented by the requesting country is sufficient to establish probable cause for the individual's arrest, and whether the individual is eligible for extradition under the terms of the relevant treaty.

If the court approves the extradition request, the individual is transferred to the custody of the requesting country for prosecution or punishment. If the court denies the request, the individual may be released or may face charges in the United States.

It is worth noting that extradition is a complex and often politically sensitive process, and there have been many high-profile cases over the years in which countries have refused to extradite individuals for various reasons.