22 USC 1732 - Release of citizens imprisoned by foreign governments

Collapse to view only § 1732. Release of citizens imprisoned by foreign governments

§ 1731. Protection to naturalized citizens abroad
§ 1732. Release of citizens imprisoned by foreign governments
§ 1733. Interagency Hostage Recovery Coordinator

§ 1731. Protection to naturalized citizens abroad

All naturalized citizens of the United States while in foreign countries are entitled to and shall receive from this Government the same protection of persons and property which is accorded to native-born citizens.

(R.S. § 2000.)

§ 1732. Release of citizens imprisoned by foreign governments

Whenever it is made known to the President that any citizen of the United States has been unjustly deprived of his liberty by or under the authority of any foreign government, it shall be the duty of the President forthwith to demand of that government the reasons of such imprisonment; and if it appears to be wrongful and in violation of the rights of American citizenship, the President shall forthwith demand the release of such citizen, and if the release so demanded is unreasonably delayed or refused, the President shall use such means, not amounting to acts of war and not otherwise prohibited by law, as he may think necessary and proper to obtain or effectuate the release; and all the facts and proceedings relative thereto shall as soon as practicable be communicated by the President to Congress.

(R.S. § 2001; Pub. L. 101–222, § 9, Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1900.)

§ 1733. Interagency Hostage Recovery Coordinator

(a) Interagency Hostage Recovery Coordinator

(1) In general

(2) Duties

The Coordinator shall have the following duties:

(A) Coordinate activities of the Federal Government relating to each hostage situation described in paragraph (1) to ensure efforts to secure the release of hostages are properly resourced and correct lines of authority are established and maintained.

(B) Chair a fusion cell consisting of appropriate personnel of the Federal Government with purview over each hostage situation described in paragraph (1).

(C) Ensure sufficient representation of each Federal agency and department at each fusion cell established under subparagraph (B) and issue procedures for adjudication and appeal.

(D) Develop processes and procedures to keep family members of hostages described in paragraph (1) informed of the status of such hostages, inform such family members of updates that do not compromise the national security of the United States, and coordinate with the Federal Government’s family engagement coordinator or other designated senior representative.

(b) Quarterly report and briefing

(1) Report

(A) In general

(B) Form of report

(2) Briefing

(3) Appropriate congressional committees defined

In this section, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on the Judiciary, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and

(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on the Judiciary, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

(Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title X, § 1092, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1018.)