Biden signs executive order on American hostages, detainees abroad

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed an executive order on doing more to bring home American hostages and those others wrongfully detained in other countries.

The order, Bolstering Efforts to Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained United States Nationals Home, "expands the tools available to deter and disrupt hostage-taking and wrongful detentions," said White House in a statement.

The order is meant to bring in new ways to punish terrorist organizations, criminal groups, and actors that take Americans hostage for financial, or other gains.

The Biden administration also introduced a new “D” risk indicator which will inform American travelers of the risk of wrongful detention by a foreign government through State Department travel advisories.

"The “D” indicator joins the existing “K” indicator that covers risk of kidnapping and hostage-taking by non-state actors, as well as a range of other existing risk indicators," said the statement.

The order also reinforces the American government’s efforts to support families of Americans wrongfully detained or held hostage overseas, and directs relevant parts of the government to bolster their engagement and sharing of relevant information, according to the statement.