Lawmaker wants to punish foreign countries over detaining Americans

(The Center Square) — A New York Republican congressman has filed a bill that seeks to punish foreign governments that take Americans hostage or wrongly detain them.

The proposal filed by Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., would create a new designation of "state sponsor of wrongful or unlawful detention" that would authorize the State Department to recommend sanctions against the offending country and potentially block foreign aid and other monetary assistance.

Lawler said the proposal would also allow federal authorities to issue travel advisories for U.S. citizens, warning them against visiting countries that have been added to the list of offenders.

"The number of incidents in which American citizens have been taken hostage while traveling abroad is deeply disturbing, and foreign governments that repeatedly engage in this behavior must be held accountable," he said in a statement. "Congress must do more to protect Americans and deter incidents from happening in the first place."

At least 46 Americans are currently in detention in Russia, China, Syria, Afghanistan and other countries, according to a recent report from the James Foley Foundation. Some are being held by armed groups under the protection of foreign governments; others have been charged with crimes. Most of the hostage taking is financially motivated, the group said.

The foundation has recommended a strategy of deterrence by punishment that it says would "threaten to inflict significant costs on groups or countries in response to taking U.S. nationals hostage or wrongfully detaining them."

"Through the imposition of severe penalties, awareness campaigns, and robust security measures, deterrence aims to dissuade potential perpetrators from engaging in hostage taking or wrongful detentions," the report's authors wrote. "By demonstrating that there will be significant consequences for these activities, deterrence seeks to prevent crises from escalating and protect individuals from harm."

In 2022, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that declared a national emergency to deal with the hostage-taking and wrongful detention of Americans abroad, saying the “heinous acts” are an "extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States."

The directive allows for sanctions against militant groups, criminal organizations and foreign agents who engage in or play a role in supporting hostage-taking of U.S. nationals for political or financial gain. The order has been used to issue sanctions against Russia’s Federal Security Service, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In August, the Biden administration secured the release of several Americans in a prisoner swap with the Russian government, including Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich,

Lawler is facing a tight race for reelection in one of the closest House contests of the 2024 election, with Democrats hoping to retake the majority and Republicans seeking to hold onto its slim majority.

The Cook Political Report has labeled New York's 17th Congressional District race a "toss-up" between Lawler and his Democratic opponent, former Rep. Mondaire Jones.