Trump issues executive decree, targeting nations that unlawfully imprison U.S. citizens
In a bid to protect American citizens from illegal detention, President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2020, establishing a "state sponsor of wrongful detention" designation. The order aims to put pressure on countries that illegally detain Americans.
According to a report by the Foley Foundation in 2024, at least 54 Americans were held hostage or wrongfully detained across 17 countries, including Iran, China, Russia, North Korea, and Venezuela. This executive order widens the aperture against whom the administration can use these tools, not just countries funding Hamas, Hezbollah, or Al Qaeda, but also those exploiting American citizens wrongfully.
The countries potentially facing sanctions under this new executive order include those the U.S. government labels as promoting arbitrary detention. Measures such as economic sanctions, visa restrictions, and suspension of U.S. aid could be imposed on these countries. However, the specific countries are not listed in the available results.
Similar travel restrictions were undertaken by the Trump administration in 2017, when U.S. passport holders were banned from traveling to North Korea after the death of U.S. citizen Otto Warmbier. The State Department issued a special indicator on travel advisories - the letter D - to warn Americans from traveling to offending countries under the Biden administration's order.
Under the Trump administration's executive order, countries could face penalties for supporting non-state actors or terrorist groups who hold Americans hostage within their borders. The order also allows Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impose sanctions on designated countries or order other punishments.
Paul Whelan, who was wrongfully held in Russia for more than five years before being released in 2024, supports the executive order. Whelan believes Trump should secure compensation for those wrongfully detained and use frozen assets from rogue regimes for that purpose. He also suggests the U.S. government could do better in ensuring the care of hostages once they are home.
Interestingly, a similar executive order was issued by the Biden administration in July 2022. Under the Biden administration's order, visa bans and sanctions could also be issued against associated individuals and actors. The Trump administration is considering restricting Americans' travel to certain countries as part of its broader deterrence efforts.
The executive order allows the administration to impose on designated countries the same measures it can bring against state sponsors of terrorism. This move is expected to serve as a significant deterrent for countries that might consider wrongfully detaining American citizens in the future.
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