Strengthening Efforts To Protect U.s. Nationals From Wrongful Detention Abroad

The designation gives the United States a framework to punish and deter governments that use Americans as political leverage, including through sanctions, travel limits, aid restrictions, and export controls.

What the order does ​

• Authorizes the Secretary of State to designate countries whose governments conduct, support, or fail to resolve wrongful detentions of U.S. nationals.
• Directs the Secretary of State to consider sanctions, visa ineligibility, passport restrictions, foreign-assistance limits, and export restrictions against designated countries.
• Allows designations to cover entities controlling most or all of a country’s territory, even if the United States does not recognize them as its government.
• Allows the Secretary of State to remove a designation after detainees are released, relevant policies or leadership change, and credible assurances are provided, or at the President’s direction.
• Clarifies that designation of a country does not mean every American detained there has been wrongfully detained.

Who it affects ​

• U.S. nationals detained or traveling abroad.
• Foreign governments and territorial authorities involved in wrongful detention.
• Foreign officials and other persons who may face sanctions or U.S. entry restrictions.
• Governments and businesses affected by U.S. aid or export limits.