List of Americans imprisoned or wrongfully detained abroad

This list represents a sample of Americans imprisoned or wrongfully detained 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 criminal conviction, hostage diplomacy, and kidnapping. It does not include American prisoners of war or war-time kidnappings.

The Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) leads and coordinates activities across the Executive Branch to bring home Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained in foreign countries. Non-governmental organizations that advocate for the return of Americans wrongfully detained abroad include the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, the James Foley Legacy Foundation,^[1] and the Bring Our Families Home Campaign.

Africa

Name	Detained	Released	Days in detention	Reason for detention	Ref.
Jeffrey Woodke	14 October 2016	20 March 2023	2348	Kidnapped for monetary ransom	^[2]
Paul Rusesabagina	31 August 2020	25 March 2023	1617	Arrested on charges of terrorism, arson, kidnap and "murder perpetrated against unarmed, innocent Rwandan civilians on Rwandan territory".	^[3]
Ryan Koher	4 November 2022	5 October 2023	822	Arrested 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.	^[4]
Marcel Malanga	19 May 2024	In detention	260	Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt	^[5]
Tyler Thompson	19 May 2024	In detention	260	Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt	^[6]
Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun	19 May 2024	In detention	260	Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt	^[7]

Asia

Afghanistan

Name	Detained	Released	Days in detention	Reason for detention	Ref.
Mark Frerichs	31 January 2020	19 September 2022	962	Kidnapped by the Haqqani network	^[8]
Ryan Corbett	10 August 2022	20 January 2025	894

China

Name	Detained	Released	Days in detention	Reason for detention	Ref.
Kai Li	July 2018	27 November 2024	~2341	espionage	^[9]
Mark Swidan	13 November 2012	27 November 2024	4397	Assisting the transportation and payment of technicians to manufacture methamphetamine	^[10]
David Lin	2006	16 September 2024	5844	contract fraud and sentenced to life in prison	^[11]

Iran

Name	Detained	Released	Days in detention	Reason for detention	Notes	Ref.
Robert Levinson	9 March 2007	Deceased while in detention				^[12]
Emad Shargi	30 November 2020	18 September 2023	1526	Espionage/Spying	Sentenced to 10 years in January 2021. Had previously been cleared in December 2019	^[13]^[14]
Morad Tahbaz	January 2018	18 September 2023	~2590			^[15]
Baquer Namazi	22 February 2016	5 October 2022	3269	Espionage/Spying		^[16]
Siamak Namazi	13 October 2015	18 September 2023	3399			^[17]
Shahab Dalili	2016	In detention	~3288	"Aiding and abetting" the U.S.		^[18]

North Korea

Russia

Name	Detained	Released	Days in detention	Reason for detention	Ref.
James Vincent Wilgus	7 November 2016	In detention	3010	indecent exposure	^[19]
Thomas Stwalley	6 July 2018	In detention	2404	intent to distribute marijuana	^[20]
Paul Whelan	28 December 2018	1 August 2024	2043	espionage
Trevor Reed	16 August 2019	27 April 2022	985	violence against an officer	^[21]
Eugene Spector	19 February 2020	In detention	1811	bribery and espionage	^[22]
Marc Fogel	15 August 2021	In detention	1268	marijuana possession	^[23]^[24]
Sarah Krivanek	15 December 2021	8 December 2022	358	domestic dispute	^[25]^[26]
Andre Khachatoorian	27 December 2021	In detention	1134	illegal possession of a firearm	^[27]
David Barnes	13 January 2022	In detention	1117	child abuse (custody dispute)	^[28]
Robert Gilman	17 January 2022	In detention	1113	assault of a police officer	^[29]
Brittney Griner	17 February 2022	8 December 2022	294	possession of hashish oil
Evan Gershkovich	29 March 2023	1 August 2024	491	espionage	^[30]
Michael Travis Leake	6 June 2023	In detention	608	intent to distribute drugs	^[31]
Alsu Kurmasheva	18 October 2023	1 August 2024	288	failure to register as a foreign agent	^[32]
Yuri Malev	8 December 2023	In detention	423	rehabilitation of Nazism	^[33]
Robert Woodland	5 January 2024	In detention	395	intent to distribute drugs	^[34]
Ksenia Karelina	27 January 2024	In detention	373	suspicion of treason	^[35]
Gordon Black	2 May 2024	In detention	277	theft and making threats	^[36]
Steven Hubbard	2 April 2022	In detention	1038	fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine	^[37]

Syria

Name	Detained	Released	Days in detention	Reason for detention	Ref.
Austin Tice	13 August 2012	In detention	4557
Majd Kamalmaz	15 February 2017	Deceased while in detention
Travis Pete Timmerman	5 June 2024	8 December 2024	186	Illegal entry into country	^[38]

United Arab Emirates

Name	Detained	Released	Days in detention	Reason for detention	United Nations	Ref.
Zack Shahin	March 2008	In detention	~6183	Accused of bribery and embezzlement	Designated arbitrarily detained per the United Nations Working Group ruling of March 2023 which ordered his immediate release, listed reparations to be paid by the United Arab Emirates government, Yemen government as well as Emirates Airlines to Zack Shahin, and repatriation back to the United States. The ruling found that Zack Shahin was a victim of kidnapping, failure of due process, faulty trials with no evidence, arbitrary detention, and much more.	^[39]^[40]

Oceania

New Zealand

Name	Detained	Released	Days in detention	Reason for detention	Ref.
Ronald Wayne Cook Sr.	1 July 2016		3139	intent to distribute drugs	^[41]

South America

Venezuela

Name	Detained	Released	Days in detention	Reason for detention	Ref.
Eyvin Hernandez	29 March 2022	December 21 2023	1042	Illegal Entry into the Country
Matthew John Heath	September 2020	October 1 2022	~1616	Terrorism and Arms Trafficking
Eyvin Hernandez	29 March 2022	December 21 2023	1042	Illegal Entry into the Country
Matthew John Heath	September 2020	October 1 2022	~1616	Terrorism and Arms Trafficking
Airan Berry	May 2020	December 21 2023	~1739	Took part in a Beach landing to overthrow the government	^[42]
Luke Denman	May 2020	December 21 2023	~1739	Took part in a Beach landing to overthrow the government	^[42]
Gustavo Cárdenas	21 November 2017	March 9 2022	1569	Arrested for corruption charges and detained among the Citgo Six
Tomeu Vadell	21 November 2017	October 1 2022	1775
Jorge Toledo	21 November 2017	October 1 2022	1775
Alirio Zambrano	21 November 2017	October 1 2022	1775
Jose Luis Zambrano	21 November 2017	October 1 2022	1775
Jose Angel Pereira	21 November 2017	October 1 2022	1775

References

^ "About the Foley Foundation". James W Foley Legacy Foundation. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
^ 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.
^ Latif Dahir, Abdi; Declan, Walsh. "Rwanda Announces Release From Prison of 'Hotel Rwanda' Hero". The New York Times.
^ "Update as of October 4, 2024 on Ryan Koher".
^ Malkia, Christina; Donati, Jessica; Schoenbaum, Hannah (7 June 2024). "3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court". AP.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
^ Malkia, Christina; Donati, Jessica; Schoenbaum, Hannah (7 June 2024). "3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court". AP.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
^ Malkia, Christina; Donati, Jessica; Schoenbaum, Hannah (7 June 2024). "3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court". AP.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
^ Akbary, Yaqoob; Goldbaum, Christina (2022-09-19). The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/19/world/asia/mark-frerichs-prisoner-swap-biden-taliban.html. Retrieved 2025-02-02. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ James Griffiths (25 June 2020). "How this Long Island man ended up in Chinese prison on espionage charges". CNN. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
^ 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.
^ Muzaffar, Maroosha (2024-09-16). "China frees American pastor David Lin after 18 years". MSN. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
^ Goldman, Adam (25 March 2020). "Ex-F.B.I. Agent Who Vanished on C.I.A. Mission to Iran is Most Likely Dead, U.S. Concludes". The New York Times.
^ Luce, Dan De (2021-01-17). "Iran jailed another American, jeopardizing Biden's plans for diplomacy". NBC News.
^ Coleman, Justine (2021-01-17). "Iran convicts American businessman on spying charge: report". TheHill. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
^ "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.
^ "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.
^ "UN Urged to Take Immediate Action on Namazis". IranWire. 25 April 2017. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020.
^ "Iranian-American woman asks for release of husband held in Iran". NBC News. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
^ Baca, Nathan; Knier, Becca (31 March 2023). "'The forgotten American' in Russian prison". wusa9.com. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
^ Forrest, Brett (18 June 2023). "Russia's Grim 'Fashion Colony': Americans Describe Harsh Life in Remote Labor Camp". wsj.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
^ "Timeline of Trevor Reed's detention in Russia and release". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
^ Yilek, Caitlin (17 August 2023). "U.S. businessman serving sentence for bribery in Russia now arrested for "espionage"". CBS News. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
^ "This American teacher also sits in a Russian jail, worried nobody cares". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
^ "Drug smuggling case of former U.S. embassy employee Fogel sent to court - Russian Interior Ministry". Interfax. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
^ Lebedev, Filipp (2022-12-09). "U.S. citizen Sarah Krivanek deported from Russia". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
^ Klemack, John Cádiz (9 December 2022). "California Teacher Returns to LAX After Being Imprisoned in Russia". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
^ "Americans left behind". 3 August 2022. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
^ 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.
^ "Americans left behind". 3 August 2022. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
^ "US journalist Evan Gershkovich jailed for 16 years in Russia". 19 July 2024.
^ Williams, Abigail (12 June 2023). "State Department investigating Case of Detained American in Russia". nbcnews.com. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
^ Ivan Nechepurenko (19 October 2023). "Russia Detains a U.S. Journalist". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Wikidata Q123128637. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
^ "Russia jails U.S. dual citizen for three-and-a-half years for 'rehabilitating Nazism'". 9 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
^ Koenig, Melissa; Guzman, Alyssa (9 January 2024). "Russia detains US citizen on drugs charges — which can carry 20 years in prison". nypost.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
^ Land, Olivia; Vincent, Isabel (20 February 2024). "California amateur ballerina detained in Russia on suspicion of treason, faces life in prison for donating $51 to Ukraine: report". nypost.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
^ McEntyre, Nicholas (18 June 2024). "US soldier Gordon Black 'lured' to Russia learns his fate after he stole, threatened to kill his girlfriend he met in South Korea". nypost.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
^ "Russian court sentences 72-year-old American for fighting for Ukraine". theguardian.com. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
^ Roush, Ty. "Who Is Travis Timmerman? Man Found In Syria After Monthslong Imprisonment Claims To Be Missing American". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
^ "The longest-serving overseas American prisoner goes on hunger strike". The longest-serving overseas American prisoner goes on hunger strike. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
^ "A/HRC/WGAD/2022/76" (PDF).
^ Hurley, Sam (2017-08-24). "Diamante horse head case: American and Mexican jailed for NZ's largest cocaine bust". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
^ ^a ^b "Family of Texas Green Beret jailed still awaits son's return". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2022-07-29.

[1] "About the Foley Foundation". James W Foley Legacy Foundation. Retrieved 2025-02-02.

[2] 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.

[3] Latif Dahir, Abdi; Declan, Walsh. "Rwanda Announces Release From Prison of 'Hotel Rwanda' Hero". The New York Times.

[4] "Update as of October 4, 2024 on Ryan Koher".

[5] Malkia, Christina; Donati, Jessica; Schoenbaum, Hannah (7 June 2024). "3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court". AP.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.

[6] Malkia, Christina; Donati, Jessica; Schoenbaum, Hannah (7 June 2024). "3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court". AP.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.

[7] Malkia, Christina; Donati, Jessica; Schoenbaum, Hannah (7 June 2024). "3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court". AP.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.

[8] Akbary, Yaqoob; Goldbaum, Christina (2022-09-19). The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/19/world/asia/mark-frerichs-prisoner-swap-biden-taliban.html. Retrieved 2025-02-02. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

[9] James Griffiths (25 June 2020). "How this Long Island man ended up in Chinese prison on espionage charges". CNN. Retrieved 2022-07-29.

[10] 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.

[11] Muzaffar, Maroosha (2024-09-16). "China frees American pastor David Lin after 18 years". MSN. Retrieved 2024-09-16.

[12] Goldman, Adam (25 March 2020). "Ex-F.B.I. Agent Who Vanished on C.I.A. Mission to Iran is Most Likely Dead, U.S. Concludes". The New York Times.

[13] Luce, Dan De (2021-01-17). "Iran jailed another American, jeopardizing Biden's plans for diplomacy". NBC News.

[14] Coleman, Justine (2021-01-17). "Iran convicts American businessman on spying charge: report". TheHill. Retrieved 2021-01-20.

[environmentalists-15] "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.

[namazi-16] "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.

[17] "UN Urged to Take Immediate Action on Namazis". IranWire. 25 April 2017. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020.

[18] "Iranian-American woman asks for release of husband held in Iran". NBC News. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-29.

[19] Baca, Nathan; Knier, Becca (31 March 2023). "'The forgotten American' in Russian prison". wusa9.com. Retrieved 2023-11-20.

[20] Forrest, Brett (18 June 2023). "Russia's Grim 'Fashion Colony': Americans Describe Harsh Life in Remote Labor Camp". wsj.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.

[21] "Timeline of Trevor Reed's detention in Russia and release". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-01-01.

[22] Yilek, Caitlin (17 August 2023). "U.S. businessman serving sentence for bribery in Russia now arrested for "espionage"". CBS News. Retrieved 2023-11-20.

[23] "This American teacher also sits in a Russian jail, worried nobody cares". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-07-29.

[24] "Drug smuggling case of former U.S. embassy employee Fogel sent to court - Russian Interior Ministry". Interfax. Retrieved 2022-07-29.

[25] Lebedev, Filipp (2022-12-09). "U.S. citizen Sarah Krivanek deported from Russia". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-01-01.

[26] Klemack, John Cádiz (9 December 2022). "California Teacher Returns to LAX After Being Imprisoned in Russia". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2023-01-01.

[27] "Americans left behind". 3 August 2022. Retrieved 2023-11-20.

[28] 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.

[29] "Americans left behind". 3 August 2022. Retrieved 2023-11-20.

[30] "US journalist Evan Gershkovich jailed for 16 years in Russia". 19 July 2024.

[31] Williams, Abigail (12 June 2023). "State Department investigating Case of Detained American in Russia". nbcnews.com. Retrieved 2023-11-20.

[32] Ivan Nechepurenko (19 October 2023). "Russia Detains a U.S. Journalist". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Wikidata Q123128637. Retrieved 2023-10-19.

[33] "Russia jails U.S. dual citizen for three-and-a-half years for 'rehabilitating Nazism'". 9 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-06.

[34] Koenig, Melissa; Guzman, Alyssa (9 January 2024). "Russia detains US citizen on drugs charges — which can carry 20 years in prison". nypost.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.

[35] Land, Olivia; Vincent, Isabel (20 February 2024). "California amateur ballerina detained in Russia on suspicion of treason, faces life in prison for donating $51 to Ukraine: report". nypost.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.

[36] McEntyre, Nicholas (18 June 2024). "US soldier Gordon Black 'lured' to Russia learns his fate after he stole, threatened to kill his girlfriend he met in South Korea". nypost.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.

[37] "Russian court sentences 72-year-old American for fighting for Ukraine". theguardian.com. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-07.

[38] Roush, Ty. "Who Is Travis Timmerman? Man Found In Syria After Monthslong Imprisonment Claims To Be Missing American". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-12-12.

[39] "The longest-serving overseas American prisoner goes on hunger strike". The longest-serving overseas American prisoner goes on hunger strike. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-29.

[40] "A/HRC/WGAD/2022/76" (PDF).

[41] Hurley, Sam (2017-08-24). "Diamante horse head case: American and Mexican jailed for NZ's largest cocaine bust". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2025-02-02.

[:0-42] "Family of Texas Green Beret jailed still awaits son's return". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2022-07-29.

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