Biden Signs Executive Order on Wrongful Detentions Abroad

JUL 19 2022·Updated JUL 20 2022

Story

Image credit: Getty Images [via Fox News]

The Facts

Biden on Tues. signed an executive order (EO) authorizing sanctions on nations that wrongfully detain Americans, as well as providing greater transparency to families of detainees.
FOX News
The State Dept. will add a "D" indicator to its travel risk advisory to warn of wrongful detentions, joining the "K" indicator that warns of kidnapping and hostage-taking by non-state actors.
The Washington Times
Starting Tues., the "D" indicator will be issued for China, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela. China is estimated to be detaining 200 Americans and holding "exit bans" on even more.
ABC News
This comes amid increased calls on the Biden admin. to take action regarding the detention of WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner in Russia since Feb. on cannabis possession charges. The State Dept. declared Griner to be "wrongfully detained" in May.
Politico
The Biden admin. also recently conducted a prisoner exchange with Moscow between marine veteran Trevor Reed and Russian drug trafficker Konstantin Yaroshenko.
FOX News
The admin. emphasized that the EO was the result of frequent communications with the families of detainees and that they'll continue efforts to return their detained loved ones.
Politico

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

This EO shows the hypocrisy of Biden and the State Dept. when it comes to which countries they'll punish. Clear proof of this is that Saudi Arabia – a country the US relies on for oil that also has Americans detained – has been left off the list of countries receiving the new "D" risk label. If Biden wanted to punish all dictatorships, he would have included the Saudi Kingdom.

New York Post

Pro-establishment narrative

Although it's only an incremental step, this EO is a necessary way for the US to push back against those countries behind the growing problem of US nationals being detained abroad. It rightfully sets up systems to punish nations and individuals complicit in detentions, and it formalizes coordination between agencies that work to communicate with families and bring detainees safely home.