Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73not60
§1732 Release of Citizens Imprisoned by Foreign Governments
Title 22 › Chapter 23— PROTECTION OF CITIZENS ABROAD › Subchapter I— GENERAL › § 1732
Summary
When the President learns a U.S. citizen is wrongly held by a foreign government, they must ask why and demand release if it violates rights. If release is unreasonably delayed or refused, they must use lawful, nonwar means to free the person and report the facts to Congress soon.
Full Legal Text
Title 22, §1732
Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whenever it is made known to the President that any citizen of the United States has been unjustly deprived of his liberty by or under the authority of any foreign government, it shall be the duty of the President forthwith to demand of that government the reasons of such imprisonment; and if it appears to be wrongful and in violation of the rights of American citizenship, the President shall forthwith demand the release of such citizen, and if the release so demanded is unreasonably delayed or refused, the President shall use such means, not amounting to acts of war and not otherwise prohibited by law, as he may think necessary and proper to obtain or effectuate the release; and all the facts and proceedings relative thereto shall as soon as practicable be communicated by the President to Congress.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification R.S. § 2001 derived from act July 27, 1868, ch. 249, § 3, 15 Stat. 224. Section was formerly classified to section 903b of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.
Amendments
1989—Pub. L. 101–222 inserted “and not otherwise prohibited by law” after “acts of war”.
Executive Documents
Release of American Hostages in IranFor Executive Order provisions relating to the release of the American hostages in Iran, see Ex. Ord. Nos. 12276 to 12285, Jan. 19, 1981, 46 F.R. 7913 to 7932, listed in a table under section 1701 of Title 50, War and National Defense.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 1732
Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60