In a move that’s sending ripples through diplomatic circles worldwide, President Donald Trump signed an executive order this past Friday, September 5, 2025, that establishes a new and controversial designation: “State Sponsor of Illegal Detentions.” With this measure, the Trump administration aims to clamp down on governments and organizations that, in its view, unjustly detain American citizens abroad—treating these acts as a calculated tactic of geopolitical coercion. As reported by CBS News and confirmed by multiple official sources, the executive order grants the U.S. Department of State sweeping authority to label countries or entities as "sponsors of arbitrary detentions" if they are found to be using the imprisonment of Americans as leverage on the world stage.
“The decree allows the government to access punitive tools similar to those used against countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism,” a senior administration official explained to CNN. “It is an expansion of the spectrum against whom we can use these tools. You don’t have to be funding Hamas, Hezbollah, or al-Qaeda; you could simply be trying to unfairly exploit our citizens.” The message is clear: the U.S. is drawing a hard line, and it’s not mincing words about the consequences.
So, what does this new designation mean for those on the receiving end? The list of possible sanctions is long and, frankly, daunting. Countries targeted under the new order could face visa restrictions for their citizens, tighter export controls, trade limitations, suspension of U.S. financial aid, and even additional tariffs. Most notably, the State Department could impose travel bans or geographic restrictions on the use of American passports, effectively discouraging U.S. citizens from visiting countries deemed risky. “The goal is to reduce the number of Americans choosing to travel to those countries and to encourage their leaders to immediately release those who are currently detained,” an official told NBC News.
Currently, the State Department already prohibits travel to North Korea with a U.S. passport without special authorization. According to officials, the Trump administration is now weighing whether to extend similar restrictions to other nations with a track record of unjust detentions. The Foley Foundation, which advocates for human rights, documented that at least 54 Americans were arbitrarily imprisoned or held hostage in 17 countries during 2024 alone. Among those countries: Iran, Russia, North Korea, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. These are not just numbers; behind each statistic is a story—sometimes a harrowing one.
One such case is that of former Marine Paul Whelan, who was finally released in 2024 after spending more than five years imprisoned in Russia. “The executive order seems to me a very good first step that will help deter if it is applied correctly against regimes like those of Russia and China,” Whelan told NBC News. He added a suggestion: the U.S. government should consider economic compensation for Americans who have been victims of these detentions, perhaps by using frozen funds from sanctioned countries.
The roots of this new initiative trace back to the Robert Levinson Act, passed during Trump’s first term. The act empowers the State Department to classify the detention of an American as “unjust” if there are signs of judicial manipulation, lack of due process, political or coercive motivations, or if evidence of innocence is ignored. Robert Levinson, a former FBI and DEA agent, was kidnapped in Iran in 2007 and is presumed to have died in captivity. His daughter, Sarah Levinson, publicly expressed her gratitude for the new measure, saying, “Thanks to Mr. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the team for sending this powerful message to stop the hostage-taking” (CBS News).
Of course, this isn’t the first time a U.S. president has tried to address the issue of Americans detained abroad. In 2022, former President Joe Biden issued an executive order declaring the unjust detention of U.S. citizens a national emergency. That order allowed for the imposition of individual sanctions and introduced a “D” indicator in State Department travel alerts. Nicaragua, for example, already carries this classification, alongside Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and North Korea. However, officials in the current Trump administration insist that their order goes further. “We are making a very clear demarcation, drawing an unbreachable line in the sand,” a senior official told NBC News. “Americans cannot be used as bargaining chips.”
Trump’s team has not shied away from drawing contrasts with the previous administration. In the official announcement, the White House emphasized that, since the beginning of Trump’s second term, 72 Americans detained abroad have been released. By comparison, they claim, during Biden’s presidency, 24 more American citizens were captured than released. “Unjust detentions are an affront to the rule of law. The United States will not tolerate these attacks on our sovereignty or on our citizens,” the statement read.
But the executive order wasn’t the only headline-grabber from the Oval Office this week. In a move that’s already sparking debate on Capitol Hill and beyond, President Trump also signed a decree to change the name of the Department of Defense to the “Department of War.” It’s a designation that hasn’t been used since the 1940s, and the administration says the change is intended to “project strength and determination” (Europa Press). Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has already adopted the new title of “Secretary of War” and has been tasked with proposing the necessary legislative reforms. The rebranding, if approved by Congress, could cost up to $1 billion, according to analysts, as it would require new uniforms, updated logos, changes to digital systems, signage, and official documents across the entire federal military structure.
The combination of these executive orders marks a significant hardening of U.S. foreign policy and a symbolic offensive that, according to the Trump administration, aims to protect its citizens and “send a message of strength to its adversaries.” Yet not everyone is convinced this is the right approach. Critics, including some career diplomats and international law experts, warn that the escalation in language and unilateral measures could increase diplomatic tensions and, paradoxically, heighten risks for American citizens abroad. Some fear that Americans could become even more attractive as political pawns for hostile governments.
Still, the administration remains resolute. “Anyone who uses an American as a bargaining chip will face the consequences. This administration prioritizes not just the United States, but also Americans,” the White House declared.
As the dust settles, the world is left to ponder whether this new approach will truly deter unjust detentions—or if it will spark new challenges for Americans traveling and working overseas. One thing’s for sure: Washington’s message, at least for now, couldn’t be clearer.