# 119-hr-4179: Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025

119-hr-4179, Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2] (R-AR); status introduced (as of 2026-07-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4179
- As of: 2026-07-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-4179
- Congress: 119
- Title: Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-06-26
- Sponsor: Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2] (R-AR)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-19

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (7)

- Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7] (R-NJ), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23] (D-FL), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2025-07-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7] (R-GA), 2025-08-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6] (R-NC), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New tool against wrongful detentions abroad: benefit, medium. 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 woul…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2853: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025
- 119-hr-9250: Great American Outdoors Act 250
- 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-4179 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4179)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-2853: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2853)
- [119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1422)
- [119-hr-9250: Great American Outdoors Act 250](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9250)
- [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4179 (as of 2026-07-19).