Strengthening Efforts to Protect U.S. Nationals from Wrongful Detention Abroad
Enhances federal authorities and coordination for responding to wrongful detention of Americans abroad.
Section by Section
What each section does, and how they differ.
States U.S. commitment to protect citizens from wrongful detention abroad and use available tools against foreign adversaries.
Authorizes State Department to designate countries as State Sponsors of Wrongful Detention based on direct engagement in or support for detaining U.S. nationals.
Directs State Department to impose sanctions, travel restrictions, and export controls on designated wrongful detention sponsors consistent with applicable law.
Permits State Department to terminate designations upon determining the designated government released detainees, changed policies, or received presidential direction.
Defines key terms including government, entity, wrongful detention, and U.S. national for purposes of this order.
Clarifies that order provisions applying to foreign governments also apply to entities exercising de facto control over territory regardless of recognition.
Preserves lawful investigative and intelligence activities by U.S. officers and agents and does not require determination that all detainees are wrongfully held.
Standard boilerplate: preserves existing agency authority, conditions the order on appropriations, and creates no enforceable private rights.