Today, the United States of America marks the first National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, a long overdue day of commemoration to call attention to innocent Americans held captive abroad. It is a solemn occasion, a reminder of the growing national security threat of kidnapping and wrongful detention abroad that threatens any U.S. national traveling overseas for work, education or other reasons.
The symbolism of today’s date is significant to us as members of the families of two prominent hostages. March 9 marks 17 years since Robert Levinson disappeared on Kish Island, Iran, at the hands of the cruel Iranian regime, and 2024 is the 10th anniversary of James Foley’s horrific public beheading by ISIS and the creation of his legacy foundation.
Since the time our family members were taken, the Foley and Levinson families have persistently worked together to shift the government’s approach to hostage taking and to protecting Americans traveling abroad. At that time, we were desperately struggling to navigate complex and isolated government bureaucracies to find someone, anyone to help us bring our loved ones home.
Today, more supports are in place to help families like ours, but much more is needed from Congress, federal agencies and the White House. This first U.S. National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day is an occasion to reflect on how far we have come in the last decade to prioritize the return of our fellow Americans held captive abroad as well as a reminder of how far we still must go to deter and prevent the horrific use of innocents as political pawns, ensuring the safety of American nationals globally.
Over these challenging years, we, and other families like us, have turned the tragic loss of public servant Robert Levinson and freelance journalist James Foley into advocacy for others held captive abroad. The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation has emerged as an action and research catalyst, advocating for freedom for all U.S. nationals wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad. Passed, in 2020, the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act codified the U.S. hostage enterprise and outlined specific criteria for what it means to be wrongfully detained or held hostage. It also provided the government with greater tools to deter hostage-taking abroad. Just last year, additional legislation was signed into law to provide mental health resources and support families to travel to Washington to advocate for their loved ones.
Unfortunately, these actions are nowhere near enough to end families’ suffering, nor do they do enough to prevent more Americans from being taken and held around the world. Right now, there are still at least 57 cases of U.S. nationals being held hostage or wrongfully detained, according to the Foley Foundation. These families face a daily nightmare, and the United States is still struggling to adapt to the complex and changing landscape of hostage-taking by state actors.
We call on Congress to continue taking action: We need a comprehensive review of all agencies and officials that are part of the U.S. hostage and wrongful detainee recovery landscape to adapt to the increasing threat of other governments wrongfully detaining our people for political or economic advantage. Families need more frequent and clearer communication regarding the wrongful detainee and hostage designation process and equitable attention to their cases. We must pursue the creation of a strong global initiative to deter and hold captors accountable. Individuals who are sanctioned by the United States under the Robert Levinson Act should receive similar punishments from other nations; a united front across the world will send a clear message to would-be captors and those who continue to deprive others of their liberty.
Above all else, as a nation, we must unite in a nonpartisan way to prioritize the return of our fellow Americans. As the black and yellow flag of hostage and wrongful detainees flies alongside our Stars and Stripes today, let us remember the legacy of brave Americans held captive abroad simply because of their nationality. We urge our fellow Americans to join us by learning the names and stories of our brethren held overseas, ask their representatives and senators to take action, and consider supporting our work to prioritize the return of our people and protecting our international travel.
Today, as we remember Robert Levinson, Kayla Mueller, Peter Kassig, Steven Sotloff, Luke Somers, Warren Weinstein, James Foley and many others who have died in captivity, let us aspire to the moral courage needed to ensure and prioritize the return of our fellow citizens, deter the scourge of international hostage taking and restore safe travel for ourselves and future generations.
Bob, Jim, Kayla, Peter, Steven, Luke, Warren and others have not died in vain. Our families have seen the results of our advocacy and the work that our government can accomplish to strengthen the security of Americans abroad. Change is possible, and today would be a fitting opportunity to take action.
Diane Foley is president of the Foley Foundation. Foley’s son James was beheaded by ISIS nearly 10 years ago. David Levinson is a board member of the Foley Foundation. Levinson’s father Robert disappeared in Iran and was the longest held hostage in U.S. history.