Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Chapter 23 — Protection of Citizens Abroad
§ 1732. Release of citizens imprisoned by foreign governments
Statutory text
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.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
R.S. § 2001
Enacted · 22 U.S.C. § 1732
R.S. § 2001
Unresolved: No Public Law or Statutes at Large citation in the Code source.
Source evidence
Code source credit
R.S. § 2001Anti-Terrorism and Arms Export Amendments Act of 1989
Pub. L. 101–222 § 9 · 103 Stat. 1892
Inserted · 22 U.S.C. § 1732
Pub. L. 101–222 inserted “and not otherwise prohibited by law” after “acts of war”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 101–222 inserted “and not otherwise prohibited by law” after “acts of war”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 9. HOSTAGE ACT. Section 2001 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (22 U.S.C. 1732) is amended by inserting “and not otherwise prohibited by law” after “acts of war”.
1 of 2 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 unresolved
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, , 46 F.R. 7913 to 7932, listed in a table under section 1701 of Title 50, War and National Defense.
Credits
1989 · 2 acts
- R.S. § 2001
- 1989Pub. L. 101–222, § 9, , 103 Stat. 1900.
Show as published
(R.S. § 2001; Pub. L. 101–222, § 9, , 103 Stat. 1900.)