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📍 Washington, D.C., 5 September 2025 — The Trump administration is preparing to issue an executive order establishing a new designation for “state sponsors of wrongful detention,” aimed at penalizing countries that illegally detain or take U.S. nationals hostage.
The measure, expected to be signed as early as Friday, would empower the U.S. State Department to impose sanctions and travel restrictions on governments found to be using detained Americans as political leverage. Modeled after the existing framework for state sponsors of terrorism, the designation seeks to deter travel to high-risk nations and pressure foreign leaders to release Americans currently held abroad.
According to the Foley Foundation, at least 54 Americans were wrongfully detained or held hostage in 17 countries during 2024. Nations such as Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and North Korea are frequently cited in U.S. travel advisories for risks related to arbitrary detention.
The executive order builds on the Robert Levinson Act, which allows the State Department to determine wrongful detention based on judicial fairness, credible evidence of innocence, or coercive intent. The administration hopes the new designation will send a strong message and reduce the use of hostage diplomacy.
