President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order aimed at increasing protections for U.S. nationals who are wrongfully detained abroad. The order gives the Secretary of State new authority to designate foreign countries as State Sponsors of Wrongful Detention if they are found to be involved in or supporting the wrongful detention of Americans.
The Executive Order directs the Secretary of State to implement measures against designated countries, which may include sanctions, inadmissibility of nationals from those countries, travel restrictions, export controls, and other steps allowed under existing laws. These actions are intended to deter and respond to cases where Americans are held unlawfully overseas.
The order also allows for the removal of a designation if a foreign government releases wrongfully detained U.S. nationals, demonstrates changes in leadership or policy regarding wrongful detentions, and provides credible assurances that such incidents will not occur again. The provisions extend beyond recognized governments and apply to entities controlling significant territory, addressing non-state actors that may engage in wrongful detentions.
According to the announcement, President Trump’s administration views these detentions as a tactic used by adversaries to undermine U.S. sovereignty and international standing. "Under the Biden Administration, our adversaries learned that they could take Americans as bargaining chips and that little to nothing would be done about it," the statement reads. "Biden’s weakness resulted in 24 more Americans taken captive than rescued in four years."
The release notes several specific cases involving American citizens who were detained abroad and have since returned home during Trump's current term in office. These include Marc Fogel, an American teacher previously held in Russia; Ksenia Karelina, a ballet dancer detained in Russia; Keith Siegel and Edan Alexander, both held hostage by Hamas; George Glezmann, who was detained by the Taliban; as well as Ryan Corbett and William McKenty.
"This Order gives the Secretary of State the ability to leverage existing tools against those adversaries to protect Americans abroad and proactively combat this coercive tactic," according to the release.
"President Trump has consistently advocated for a strong, America First foreign policy that deters adversaries from targeting U.S. nationals," it continues.
Since returning to office, President Trump’s administration reports having secured the release of 72 Americans detained overseas.