Can I be detained abroad even if my US warrant was issued for a minor offence?

Yes. Foreign border authorities conducting Interpol database checks typically cannot distinguish between serious felonies and minor charges — they see only that a US warrant exists. Even misdemeanour warrants or failure-to-appear notices can trigger detention, particularly in countries with mandatory hold policies for Interpol alerts. The detention may last 24–72 hours while local authorities verify the warrant with US counterparts, regardless of the underlying offence’s severity. This makes proactive resolution essential before international travel.