President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order aimed at strengthening U.S. efforts to protect its nationals from wrongful detention abroad. The order gives the Secretary of State the 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 American citizens.
Under this directive, the Secretary of State can impose measures on designated countries, such as sanctions, travel restrictions, inadmissibility of their nationals, export controls, and other actions under existing laws. These steps are intended to deter and respond to instances where Americans are wrongfully detained overseas. The order also covers entities that control significant territory but are not recognized as governments, addressing non-state actors engaged in similar activities.
The executive action allows for the removal of a country’s designation if it releases wrongfully detained Americans, demonstrates policy changes regarding detentions, and provides credible assurances against future violations.
According to President Trump’s statement: "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. Biden’s weakness resulted in 24 more Americans taken captive than rescued in four years." He added: "Wrongful detentions violate the rule of law and exploit American citizens, with cases like Marc Fogel’s detention in Russia lasting over three years."
President Trump emphasized his administration's commitment by stating: "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." He continued: "President Trump is committed to bringing every American that is wrongfully detained abroad home."
Since returning to office, President Trump reported that his administration has secured the release of 72 detained Americans from various countries. Notable cases include Marc Fogel, who returned home after years imprisoned in Russia; Ksenia Karelina, released after 14 months in a Russian penal colony; Keith Siegel and Edan Alexander, both held hostage by Hamas; and George Glezmann along with other Americans freed from Taliban captivity.
Trump reiterated his approach: "President Trump has consistently advocated for a strong, America First foreign policy that deters adversaries from targeting U.S. nationals."