03-12-2025

U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, 2025

ProclamationView the Original .pdf
View the Original .pdf

The 1-Minute Brief

What: This proclamation officially designates March 9, 2025, as "U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day." It serves as a national day of recognition for Americans held captive abroad and reaffirms the U.S. government's commitment to securing their release.

Money: This proclamation does not directly appropriate any funds. However, it is connected to broader U.S. government efforts, such as those under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, which authorizes sanctions and other financial measures against perpetrators.

Your Impact: For the average American, the direct impact is minimal. However, for the dozens of families whose loved ones are held hostage or wrongfully detained overseas, this day serves as a symbol of national solidarity and a promise of continued government action. The proclamation and the flag it promotes are meant to keep the plight of these citizens in the public consciousness.

Status: This is a Presidential Proclamation, issued on March 9, 2025, and published in the Federal Register. The day of observance was established by an act of Congress.

What's Actually in the Proclamation

This document is a formal declaration by the President of the United States, designating March 9, 2025, as a day to honor American hostages and those wrongfully detained in foreign countries. It expresses solidarity with the captives and their families, vowing to never abandon them and to work tirelessly for their safe return. The proclamation also commits to holding their captors accountable.

Core Provisions:

  • Designates March 9, 2025, as U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day.
  • Mandates the flying of the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag at the White House on this day.
  • Calls upon the American people to observe the day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
  • Highlights the administration's success in securing the release of 13 Americans since taking office.

Stated Purpose (from the Proclamation):

  1. To send love, prayers, and support to every American held in captivity.
  2. To vow that the administration will never forget or abandon these citizens and is committed to their safe return.
  3. To bring the captors of these Americans to justice.
  4. To stand with the families of those held and commit to a future rooted in "peace through strength."

Key Facts:

Affected Sectors: Foreign Policy, National Security, Human Rights.
Timeline: The designation of March 9th is annual, as established by Public Law 118-31.
Scope: The proclamation is national in scope but concerns U.S. citizens detained by state and non-state actors worldwide.

The Backstory: How We Got Here

Timeline of Events:

The Post-9/11 Era and Increased Hostage-Taking (2001-2020):

Following the September 11th attacks, the nature of hostage-taking evolved, with both terrorist organizations and state actors increasingly using American citizens as political pawns. A pivotal case was that of Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who was taken hostage in Iran in 2007 and remains the longest-held hostage in U.S. history. His case, along with the public beheading of journalist James Foley by ISIS in 2014, exposed gaps in the U.S. government's approach and galvanized families to demand policy changes.

Legislative and Policy Overhaul (2020-Present):

In response to growing pressure from families and advocacy groups, Congress passed the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act in 2020. This law codified and reformed the U.S. government's response, creating key positions like the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs and interagency bodies such as the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell. Subsequently, in 2022, an Executive Order was signed to further strengthen these efforts by authorizing sanctions and other penalties against those involved in wrongful detentions. The designation of U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day was part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31), solidifying a national day of remembrance.

Why Now? The Political Calculus:

  • Sustained Advocacy: The "Bring Our Families Home Campaign," a coalition of families of detainees, has been highly effective in raising public awareness through powerful visual campaigns, such as murals in Washington D.C. Their persistent lobbying has created significant political pressure.
  • Bipartisan Consensus: The issue of freeing American hostages enjoys rare, strong bipartisan support, making legislative action and public declarations like this proclamation politically advantageous.
  • Geopolitical Tool: The proclamation serves as a diplomatic signal to nations that engage in "hostage diplomacy," asserting that the U.S. will not tolerate the practice and will prioritize the return of its citizens.

Your Real-World Impact

The Direct Answer: This proclamation directly affects the specific group of Americans detained abroad and their families, but it aims to indirectly involve all Americans through awareness and national solidarity.

What Could Change for You:

Potential Benefits:

  • For Affected Families: The proclamation provides a sense of national recognition and validates their struggle, reinforcing that their loved ones are not forgotten. It can also be used as a tool in their advocacy efforts.
  • For the General Public: It raises awareness of the dangers some Americans face abroad and the complex diplomatic efforts required to bring them home. It also promotes a symbol—the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag—to unify public support.

Possible Disruptions or Costs:

Short-term:

  • There are no direct costs or disruptions for the average American.

Long-term:

  • The broader policies behind the proclamation could have long-term geopolitical implications, such as strained relations with countries sanctioned for detaining Americans.

Who's Most Affected:

Primary Groups: American citizens currently held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, and their immediate families.
Secondary Groups: U.S. diplomatic and intelligence personnel involved in recovery efforts, and advocacy organizations like the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation and Hostage US.
Regional Impact: While not specific to a U.S. region, the impact is felt most acutely in communities where detained Americans are from. The proclamation mentions detainees from countries including Russia, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Belarus.

Bottom Line: This proclamation makes the plight of dozens of American families a national priority for a day, aiming to translate public awareness into a sustained commitment to bring them home.

Where the Parties Stand

On the issue of freeing American hostages, both major parties are largely in agreement. The core legislation establishing the government's modern approach was passed with broad bipartisan support. Differences tend to arise in strategy rather than in the ultimate goal.

Republican Position: "Peace Through Strength"

Core Stance: The Republican party generally supports a strong, assertive posture against hostile nations, using sanctions and diplomatic pressure to secure the release of Americans.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Support for robust action against captors and holding them accountable.
  • ✓ Emphasis on national strength and security as a deterrent.
  • ⚠️ May express skepticism about the effectiveness of certain diplomatic negotiations or prisoner swaps, viewing them as potentially incentivizing further hostage-taking.

Legislative Strategy: Generally supportive of legislation that imposes costs on perpetrators, such as sanctions, and that provides resources for hostage recovery efforts.

Democratic Position: "Strengthened Diplomacy and Alliances"

Core Stance: The Democratic party typically emphasizes a multi-faceted approach, combining diplomatic engagement, international coalitions, and targeted sanctions.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Strong support for the legal and procedural tools established by the Levinson Act and subsequent executive orders.
  • ✓ Willingness to use all available tools, including prisoner exchanges when deemed necessary, to bring Americans home.
  • ⚠️ Some may argue for a greater emphasis on international law and multilateral pressure over unilateral actions.

Legislative Strategy: Generally focused on funding and strengthening the State Department and its diplomatic corps, while also supporting sanctions and other accountability measures.

Constitutional Check

The Verdict: ✓ Constitutional

Basis of Authority:

The President's authority to issue such a proclamation is rooted in their role as Head of State and their inherent powers in foreign affairs. The underlying day of observance was established by Congress through its legislative power.

Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18): Gives Congress the power "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof."

Constitutional Implications:

[Executive Power]: The proclamation is an exercise of the President's role in speaking for the nation and directing the focus of the executive branch. It does not create new law but implements the sentiment of a law passed by Congress (Public Law 118-31).
[Precedent]: Presidents have historically issued thousands of proclamations for commemorative days, weeks, and months. This action is well within established precedent.
[Federalism]: This issue falls squarely within the federal government's purview of foreign policy and national security, with no overreach into powers reserved for the states.

Potential Legal Challenges:

There are no credible legal challenges to this proclamation. It is a symbolic, declarative act based on a law passed by Congress and is consistent with the President's constitutional roles.

Your Action Options

TO SUPPORT THIS CAUSE

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I support continued efforts to bring home American hostages and wrongful detainees. Please ensure the government has the resources it needs to make this a priority."
  • Social Media: Share information about current detainees or the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag on social media to raise public awareness.

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Detailed Email: Contact your elected officials or the State Department to express support for the full implementation of the Robert Levinson Act.
  • Join an Organization:
    • James W. Foley Legacy Foundation: Advocates for hostage freedom and journalist safety.
    • Bring Our Families Home Campaign: A group run by the families of those detained.
    • Hostage US: Provides support and resources to the families of hostages and to returned captives.

TO OPPOSE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES

While there is little to no organized opposition to the goal of freeing hostages, some may disagree with specific methods like prisoner swaps.

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town]. While I want to see all Americans returned safely, I am concerned about [specific policy, e.g., prisoner exchanges] and urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to ensure U.S. policy does not encourage more hostage-taking."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Letter to the Editor: Express your views on the strategic approach to hostage negotiations and its long-term consequences for national security.
  • Engage with Think Tanks: Follow and support foreign policy and national security organizations that analyze and critique government strategies on this issue.