Title 22 - Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Chapter 23 - Protection of Citizens Abroad
HEAD
Sec. 1732. Release of citizens imprisoned by foreign governments
STATUTE
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.
SOURCE
(R.S. Sec. 2001; Pub. L. 101-222, Sec. 9, Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat.
1900.)
COD
CODIFICATION
R.S. Sec. 2001 derived from act July 27, 1868, ch. 249, Sec. 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''.
RELEASE OF AMERICAN HOSTAGES IN IRAN For 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, set out as notes under section 1701 of Title 50, War and National Defense.