Since the passage of the Levinson Act in December 2020, dozens of U.S. nationals wrongfully and unjustly detained overseas have reunited with their families, thanks to a whole-of-government commitment - including bipartisan legislative support from Congress - to bringing them home. The costs of wrongful detentions are immeasurable - to the individuals detained, their families, and their communities, who must deal with the long-term scars of having a loved one wrenched away from them, often for years. It is not enough just to bring people home. Each new case serves as a stark reminder that we need to do more to deter and prevent new cases from occurring. That is why we are pleased to announce the release of the Department of State Strategy on Countering Wrongful Detentions. This Strategy sets out the objectives, milestones, and indicators that will guide our work for years to come and hold us accountable to the American people to make progress toward our goals.
With this strategy, we are demonstrating our commitment to apply U.S. power to boost cooperation among states, civil society, and the private sector to deter and prevent wrongful and unjust detentions. We further commit to lend our support to our partners and allies when they confront states that wrongfully or unjustly detain their nationals, bringing us closer to a world in which no state holds another's nationals for political gain, and those that dare to do so will face global consequences.
