Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a new State Sponsor of Unlawful or Wrongful Detention (SWUD) designation that would let the Secretary of State, working with other agencies, label countries that unlawfully detain U.S. nationals and fail to release them. It would also require public lists, fast reporting to Congress, and reviews of sanctions, visa limits, export controls, and other tools the U.S. could use to deter and respond to wrongful detention.
Show full summary
- Families and detained Americans: Would give the State Department a formal path to identify countries holding U.S. nationals wrongfully and to marshal tools aimed at securing releases. A country can be flagged if it does not release a detainee within 30 days after notification by the Department of State.
- Congress and oversight: Requires the Secretary to report to Congress within 7 days after a designation and to brief lawmakers soon after enactment on an initial set of 9 countries under assessment. It also mandates annual briefings for multiple years and public posting of designated countries.
- Foreign governments and policy tools: Triggers a required review of authorities that could follow a designation, including sanctions, visa bans, restrictions on assistance, export controls, and exploring an asset-seizure immunity exception under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New tool against wrongful detentions abroad
If enacted, the Secretary of State could label countries that wrongfully detain Americans and post a public list. A country could be listed if detentions occur there, it fails to free a U.S. national within 30 days after State notice, or its actions show responsibility or a serious risk. State would notify Congress within 7 days with reasons and U.S. actions; an initial briefing on Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, Venezuela under Nicolas Maduro, Belarus, and China would be due within 60 days. Listings would end after 6 months unless Congress approves by law; without approval, re‑listing that country would be barred for 6 months unless Congress authorizes, and the Secretary could also end a listing after releases or policy changes. After any listing, agencies would review tools like visa bans, sanctions, aid limits, and export controls; State would brief annually for five years, the Special Envoy would testify once each Congress, and the public list would be kept updated. A listing would not automatically make every detention there “wrongful.”
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2]
AR • R
Cosponsors
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 7/22/2025
Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]
GA • R
Sponsored 8/26/2025
McDowell
NC • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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