This week, a bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives introduced the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025. The legislation aims to address the unlawful or wrongful detention of U.S. citizens and permanent residents by foreign entities. Introduced by Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17), French Hill (AR-02), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-07), and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), the bill proposes new measures for holding accountable those responsible for such detentions.
The bill introduces a designation system for countries or nonstate actors involved in these activities, empowering the Secretary of State and Congress to take action against them. It also includes provisions for congressional oversight, requiring that any designations expire unless approved by Congress within six months through a joint resolution.
The legislation directs the Secretary of State to assess whether certain countries should be designated under this new authority, including China, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Nicaragua, Syria, Venezuela, and Belarus.
Congressman Lawler stated his support for the bill as a co-lead: “I’m proud to be joining a bipartisan group of colleagues working to protect Americans held hostage by rogue nations as political pawns.” Congressman Hill added that wrongful detention is “a direct attack on the United States,” emphasizing the need for consequences against those responsible.
Congressman Gottheimer highlighted increasing threats from foreign adversaries and stressed that protecting Americans abroad must remain a priority: “This bipartisan bill will help bring home Americans wrongfully detained around the world.”
Congressman Kean Jr. shared a personal connection through his constituent Sarah Moriarty’s experience with her father Robert Levinson’s disappearance in Iran: “Hostile regimes like Iran continue to use innocent Americans as bargaining chips.”
Congressman Moskowitz emphasized that bad actors cannot detain Americans without facing repercussions: “Our government will hold accountable any state or nonstate actors who threaten Americans in this way.”
Sarah Moriarty expressed her support for the legislation: “This important bipartisan legislation…is a giant leap forward in creating tangible deterrence.” The Foley Foundation also supports the bill’s introduction and its oversight provisions.
The proposed legislation creates authority for formal designations similar to state sponsors of terrorism designations and allows penalties on offending governments.
