SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL

§1731. Protection to naturalized citizens abroad

All naturalized citizens of the United States while in foreign countries are entitled to and shall receive from this Government the same protection of persons and property which is accorded to native-born citizens.

(R.S. §2000.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

R.S. §2000 derived from Act July 27, 1868, ch. 249, §2, 15 Stat. 224.

Section was formerly classified to section 903a of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Equitable Treatment by United States of Its Citizens Living Abroad

Pub. L. 95–426, title VI, §611, Oct. 7, 1978, 92 Stat. 989, as amended by Pub. L. 96–60, title IV, §407, Aug. 15, 1979, 93 Stat. 405; Pub. L. 97–241, title V, §505(a)(2), (b)(1), Aug. 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 299, provided that: "The Congress finds that—

"(1) United States citizens living abroad should be provided fair and equitable treatment by the United States Government with regard to taxation, citizenship of progeny, veterans' benefits, voting rights, Social Security benefits, and other obligations, rights, and benefits; and

"(2) United States statutes and regulations should be designed so as not to create competitive disadvantage for individual American citizens living abroad or working in international markets."

§1732. Release of citizens imprisoned by foreign governments

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.

(R.S. §2001; Pub. L. 101–222, §9, Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1900.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

R.S. §2001 derived from act July 27, 1868, ch. 249, §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".

Executive Documents

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, listed in a table under section 1701 of Title 50, War and National Defense.

§1733. Interagency Hostage Recovery Coordinator

(a) Interagency Hostage Recovery Coordinator

(1) In general

Not later than 60 days after November 25, 2015, the President shall designate an existing Federal official to coordinate efforts to secure the release of United States persons who are hostages held abroad. For purposes of carrying out the duties described in paragraph (2), such official shall have the title of "Interagency Hostage Recovery Coordinator".

(2) Duties

The Coordinator shall have the following duties:

(A) Coordinate activities of the Federal Government relating to each hostage situation described in paragraph (1) to ensure efforts to secure the release of hostages are properly resourced and correct lines of authority are established and maintained.

(B) Chair a fusion cell consisting of appropriate personnel of the Federal Government with purview over each hostage situation described in paragraph (1).

(C) Ensure sufficient representation of each Federal agency and department at each fusion cell established under subparagraph (B) and issue procedures for adjudication and appeal.

(D) Develop processes and procedures to keep family members of hostages described in paragraph (1) informed of the status of such hostages, inform such family members of updates that do not compromise the national security of the United States, and coordinate with the Federal Government's family engagement coordinator or other designated senior representative.

(b) Quarterly report and briefing

(1) Report

(A) In general

On a quarterly basis, the Coordinator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes a summary of each hostage situation described in subsection (a)(1).

(B) Form of report

Each report under this ¹ subparagraph (A) may be submitted in classified or unclassified form.

(2) Briefing

On a quarterly basis, the Coordinator shall provide to the Senators representing the State, and the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the House of Representatives representing the district, where a hostage described in subsection (a)(1) resides a briefing with respect to the status of such hostage.

(3) Appropriate congressional committees defined

In this section, the term "appropriate congressional committees" means—

(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on the Judiciary, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and

(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on the Judiciary, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

(Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title X, §1092, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1018.)

¹ So in original. The word "this" probably should not appear.