Thanks for clarification. Assuming for this discussion he is illegal....It doesn't seem quite right as re: cost burden...could be hundrrds of thousands of dollars with the current process.  I am imagining his appealing an undesired outcome if he felt his (US paid) defense did not provide him an adequate defense. You wonder if somewhere in the early stages of the plea bargain process the government of the charged individual shouldn't have a mandated role if a plea offering was not accepted and a full defense was to go forward. Just wondering as it makes for some interesting next level questions. Guilt or innocense of the crime an established process. Burden of providing a robust and adequate defense apparently lies at the feet of the jurisdiction where the crime took place. If defense or outcome not satisfactory the accused's Country can appeal but on a political front only?....OR,  Can Country of origin insert a defense team to represent their citizen?