List of American people imprisoned abroad

Last updated

This list represents a sample of American people imprisoned abroad by state and non-state actors, past and present. This list includes both citizens of the United States and legal permanent residents. It represents individuals imprisoned through various channels, including tried crimes and kidnappings. It does not include American prisoners of war or war-time kidnappings.

Contents

The Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) Roger D. Carstens leads and coordinates activities across the Executive Branch to bring home Americans held hostage in other countries. Non-governmental organizations that advocate for the return of Americans imprisoned abroad include the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, the James Foley Legacy Foundation, and the Bring Our Families Home Campaign.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Africa

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
Jeffrey Woodke14 October 201620 March 20232795Kidnapped for monetary ransom [1]
Paul Rusesabagina 31 August 202025 March 20231378Arrested on charges of terrorism, arson, kidnap and "murder perpetrated against unarmed, innocent Rwandan civilians on Rwandan territory".
Ryan Koher4 November 2022provisionally released583Arrested trying to fly supplies to orphanage in Northern Mozambique and was held without charges or bail. March 15, 2023 provisionally released but forbidden from leaving country. [2]
Marcel Malanga19 May 2024In detention21Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt [3]
Tyler Thompson19 May 2024In detention21Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt [4]
Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun19 May 2024In detention21Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt [5]

Asia

Afghanistan

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
Mark Frerichs 31 January 2020September 2022944Kidnapped by the Haqqani network

China

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
Kai Li July 2018In detention~2170espionage [6]
Mark Swidan 13 November 2012In detention4226Assisting the transportation and payment of technicians to manufacture methamphetamine [7]
David Lin and Friends2008In detention~5844contract fraud and sentenced to life in prison [8]

Iran

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionNotesRef.
Emad Shargi 30 November 202018 September 20231287Espionage / SpyingSentenced to 10 years in January 2021.

Had previously been cleared in December 2019

 [9] [10]
Morad Tahbaz January 201818 September 2023~2351 [11]
Baquer Namazi 22 February 20165 October 20223030Espionage/Spying [12]
Siamak Namazi 13 October 201518 September 20233160 [13]
Shahab Dalili2016In detention~2922"Aiding and abetting" the U.S. [14]

North Korea

Pakistan

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
Paul Overby 17 May 2014In detention3676

Russia

NameDetainedWrongfully*ReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
Trevor Reed 16 August 2019Yes27 April 2022985violence against an officer [15]
Sarah Krivanek15 December 2021No8 December 2022358domestic dispute [16] [17]
Brittney Griner 17 February 2022Yes8 December 2022294possession of hashish oil
Paul Whelan 28 December 2018YesIn detention1990espionage
Marc Fogel 15 August 2021NoIn detention1029marijuana possession [18] [19]
Eugene Spector19 February 2020NoIn detention1572bribery and espionage [20]
Evan Gershkovich 29 March 2023YesIn detention438espionage
David Barnes13 January 2022NoIn detention878child abuse (custody dispute) [21]
James Vincent Wilgus7 November 2016NoIn detention2771indecent exposure [22]
Thomas Stwalley6 July 2018NoIn detention2165intent to distribute marijuana [23]
Michael Travis Leake6 June 2023NoIn detention369intent to distribute drugs [24]
Alsu Kurmasheva 18 October 2023NoIn detention235failure to register as a foreign agent. [25]
*Designated as "Wrongfully Detained" by the U.S. Secretary of State

Middle East

Syria

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
Austin Tice 14 August 2012In detention4317
Majd Kamalmaz 15 February 2017Deceased while in detention, May 2024

United Arab Emirates

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
Zack ShahinMarch 2008In detention~5944bribery and embezzlement [26]

South America

Venezuela

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
Eyvin Hernandez 29 March 2022December 21 2023803Illegal Entry into the Country
Matthew John Heath September 2020October 1 2022~1377Terrorism and Arms Trafficking
Airan BerryMay 2020December 21 2023~1500Took part in a Beach landing to overthrow the government [27]
Luke DenmanMay 2020December 21 2023~1500Took part in a Beach landing to overthrow the government [27]
Gustavo Cárdenas21 November 2017March 9 20221569Arrested for corruption charges and detained among the Citgo Six
Tomeu Vadell21 November 2017October 1 20221775
Jorge Toledo21 November 2017October 1 20221775
Alirio Zambrano21 November 2017October 1 20221775
Jose Luis Zambrano21 November 2017October 1 20221775
Jose Angel Pereira21 November 2017October 1 20221775

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References

  1. ↑ Korpar, Lora (2021-11-18). "Wife of American man kidnapped 5 years ago in Africa says release being hindered by U.S." Newsweek. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  2. ↑ https://maf.org/press/an-update-on-pilot-ryan-koher/
  3. ↑ Malkia, Christina; Donati, Jessica; Schoenbaum, Hannah. "3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court". AP.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  4. ↑ Malkia, Christina; Donati, Jessica; Schoenbaum, Hannah. "3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court". AP.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  5. ↑ Malkia, Christina; Donati, Jessica; Schoenbaum, Hannah. "3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court". AP.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  6. ↑ James Griffiths. "How this Long Island man ended up in Chinese prison on espionage charges". CNN. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  7. ↑ Amanatullah, Samy (2020-11-30). "The Dui Hua Foundation - American Citizen Mark Swidan: Eight Years in Jiangmen Detention Center". The Dui Hua Foundation. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  8. ↑ Perkins, Tony (2019-04-16). "The US must bring imprisoned American pastor David Lin home from China". Fox News. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  9. ↑ Luce, Dan De (2021-01-17). "Iran jailed another American, jeopardizing Biden's plans for diplomacy". NBC News.
  10. ↑ Coleman, Justine (2021-01-17). "Iran convicts American businessman on spying charge: report". TheHill. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  11. ↑ "Environmentalists Detained in Crackdown Denied Legal Counsel Amid Claims Some Were 'Jewish Spies'". Center for Human Rights in Iran. 5 March 2018. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019.
  12. ↑ "Revolutionary Guards Mark Anniversary of Dual National Siamak Namazi's Arrest With Propaganda Video". Center for Human Rights in Iran. 17 October 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019.
  13. ↑ "UN Urged to Take Immediate Action on Namazis". IranWire. 25 April 2017. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020.
  14. ↑ "Iranian-American woman asks for release of husband held in Iran". NBC News. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  15. ↑ "Timeline of Trevor Reed's detention in Russia and release". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  16. ↑ Lebedev, Filipp (2022-12-09). "U.S. citizen Sarah Krivanek deported from Russia". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  17. ↑ Klemack, John Cádiz. "California Teacher Returns to LAX After Being Imprisoned in Russia". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  18. ↑ "This American teacher also sits in a Russian jail, worried nobody cares". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  19. ↑ "Drug smuggling case of former U.S. embassy employee Fogel sent to court - Russian Interior Ministry". Interfax. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  20. ↑ Yilek, Caitlin (17 August 2023). "U.S. businessman serving sentence for bribery in Russia now arrested for "espionage"". CBS News. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  21. ↑ Kofsky, Jared (3 August 2022). "Houston-area man detained in Russia for months due to 'political purposes,' Rep. Kevin Brady says". abc13.com. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  22. ↑ Baca, Nathan; Knier, Becca (31 March 2023). "'The forgotten American' in Russian prison". wusa9.com. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  23. ↑ Forrest, Brett (18 June 2023). "Russia's Grim 'Fashion Colony': Americans Describe Harsh Life in Remote Labor Camp". wsj.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  24. ↑ Williams, Abigail (12 June 2023). "State Department investigating Case of Detained American in Russia". nbcnews.com. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  25. ↑ Ivan Nechepurenko (19 October 2023). "Russia Detains a U.S. Journalist". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Wikidata   Q123128637 . Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  26. ↑ "The longest-serving overseas American prisoner goes on hunger strike". The longest-serving overseas American prisoner goes on hunger strike. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  27. 1 2 "Family of Texas Green Beret jailed still awaits son's return". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
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