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2 shown · Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs

EO 140782022-07-19Biden

Bolstering Efforts To Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained United States Nationals Home

This executive order declares a national emergency over hostage-taking and wrongful detention of U.S. nationals abroad, expanding existing hostage recovery infrastructure to cover state-sponsored wrongful detentions. It authorizes sanctions—including asset blocking and visa bans—against foreign persons involved in such acts, and mandates enhanced interagency coordination, family engagement, and diplomatic strategies led by the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.

EO 136982015-06-24Obama

Hostage Recovery Activities

This executive order creates a unified interagency structure for recovering U.S. nationals held hostage abroad, establishing the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell within the FBI, a Hostage Response Group at the National Security Council level, and a Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department. It mandates coordination across intelligence, law enforcement, diplomatic, and military agencies while maintaining the no-concessions policy.

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