List of American people imprisoned abroad explained

This list represents a sample of American people imprisoned 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 tried crimes and kidnappings. It does not include American prisoners of war or war-time kidnappings.

The Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) Roger D. Carstens leads and coordinates activities across the Executive Branch to bring home Americans held hostage in other countries. Non-governmental organizations that advocate for the return of Americans imprisoned abroad include the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, the James Foley Legacy Foundation, and the Bring Our Families Home Campaign.

Africa

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detention
Jeffrey Woodke14 October 201620 March 2023Kidnapped for monetary ransom[1]
Paul Rusesabagina31 August 202025 March 2023Arrested on charges of terrorism, arson, kidnap and "murder perpetrated against unarmed, innocent Rwandan civilians on Rwandan territory".
Ryan Koher4 November 20225 October 2023Arrested 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.[2]
Marcel Malanga19 May 2024Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt[3]
Tyler Thompson19 May 2024Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt[4]
Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun19 May 2024Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt[5]

Asia

Afghanistan

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detention
Paul Overby17 May 2014
Mark Frerichs31 January 2020September 2022944Kidnapped by the Haqqani network

China

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detention
Kai LiJuly 2018~espionage[6]
Mark Swidan13 November 2012Assisting the transportation and payment of technicians to manufacture methamphetamine [7]
David Lin and Friends2008~contract fraud and sentenced to life in prison[8]

Iran

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionNotes
18 September 2023Espionage / SpyingSentenced to 10 years in January 2021. Had previously been cleared in December 2019[9] [10]
18 September 2023~[11]
5 October 2022Espionage/Spying[12]
18 September 2023[13]
Shahab Dalili2016~"Aiding and abetting" the U.S.[14]

Russia

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detention
James Vincent Wilgus7 November 2016indecent exposure[15]
Thomas Stwalley6 July 2018intent to distribute marijuana[16]
Paul Whelan28 December 20181 August 2024espionage
Trevor Reed16 August 201927 April 2022985violence against an officer[17]
Eugene Spector19 February 2020bribery and espionage[18]
Marc Fogel15 August 2021marijuana possession[19] [20]
Sarah Krivanek15 December 20218 December 2022domestic dispute[21] [22]
David Barnes13 January 2022child abuse (custody dispute)[23]
Brittney Griner17 February 20228 December 2022possession of hashish oil
Evan Gershkovich29 March 20231 August 2024espionage[24]
Michael Travis Leake6 June 2023intent to distribute drugs[25]
Alsu Kurmasheva18 October 20231 August 2024failure to register as a foreign agent[26]
Robert Woodland5 January 2024intent to distribute drugs[27]
Ksenia Karelina27 January 2024suscpicion of treason[28]
Gordon Black2 May 2024theft and making threats[29]

Middle East

Syria

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detention
Austin Tice14 August 2012
Majd Kamalmaz15 February 2017Deceased while in detention, May 2024

United Arab Emirates

South America

Venezuela

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detention
Eyvin Hernandez29 March 2022December 21 2023Illegal Entry into the Country
Matthew John HeathSeptember 2020October 1 2022 ~Terrorism and Arms Trafficking
Airan BerryMay 2020December 21 2023~Took part in a Beach landing to overthrow the government[32]
Luke DenmanMay 2020December 21 2023~Took part in a Beach landing to overthrow the government
Gustavo Cárdenas21 November 2017March 9 20221569Arrested for corruption charges and detained among the Citgo Six
Tomeu Vadell21 November 2017October 1 20221775
Jorge Toledo21 November 2017October 1 20221775
Alirio Zambrano 21 November 2017October 1 2022 1775
Jose Luis Zambrano 21 November 2017October 1 2022 1775
Jose Angel Pereira 21 November 2017October 1 20221775

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Korpar . Lora . 2021-11-18 . Wife of American man kidnapped 5 years ago in Africa says release being hindered by U.S. . 2022-07-28 . Newsweek . en.
  2. https://maf.org/press/ryan-kohers/
  3. Web site: Malkia . Christina . Donati . Jessica . Schoenbaum . Hannah . 3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court . AP.com . 9 June 2024.
  4. Web site: Malkia . Christina . Donati . Jessica . Schoenbaum . Hannah . 3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court . AP.com . 9 June 2024.
  5. Web site: Malkia . Christina . Donati . Jessica . Schoenbaum . Hannah . 3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court . AP.com . 9 June 2024.
  6. Web site: James Griffiths . How this Long Island man ended up in Chinese prison on espionage charges . 2022-07-29 . CNN.
  7. Web site: Amanatullah . Samy . 2020-11-30 . The Dui Hua Foundation - American Citizen Mark Swidan: Eight Years in Jiangmen Detention Center . 2022-07-29 . The Dui Hua Foundation . en-US.
  8. Web site: Perkins . Tony . 2019-04-16 . The US must bring imprisoned American pastor David Lin home from China . 2022-07-29 . Fox News . en-US.
  9. Web site: Luce. Dan De. 2021-01-17. Iran jailed another American, jeopardizing Biden's plans for diplomacy. NBC News. en.
  10. Web site: Coleman. Justine. 2021-01-17. Iran convicts American businessman on spying charge: report. 2021-01-20. TheHill. en.
  11. Web site: 5 March 2018 . Environmentalists Detained in Crackdown Denied Legal Counsel Amid Claims Some Were 'Jewish Spies' . Center for Human Rights in Iran . https://web.archive.org/web/20191015192701/https://www.iranhumanrights.org/2018/03/environmentalists-detained-in-crackdown-denied-legal-counsel-amid-claims-some-were-jewish-spies/ . 15 October 2019 . live .
  12. Web site: Revolutionary Guards Mark Anniversary of Dual National Siamak Namazi's Arrest With Propaganda Video . 17 October 2016 . Center for Human Rights in Iran . https://web.archive.org/web/20191009233510/https://www.iranhumanrights.org/2016/10/siamak-namazi-irgc/ . 9 October 2019 . live .
  13. News: UN Urged to Take Immediate Action on Namazis . 25 April 2017 . IranWire . https://web.archive.org/web/20200320052142/https://iranwire.com/en/features/4558 . 20 March 2020 . live .
  14. Web site: Iranian-American woman asks for release of husband held in Iran . 2022-07-29 . NBC News . en.
  15. News: Baca . Nathan . Knier . Becca . 'The forgotten American' in Russian prison . en-US . wusa9.com . 2023-11-20 . 31 March 2023.
  16. News: Forrest . Brett . Russia’s Grim ‘Fashion Colony’: Americans Describe Harsh Life in Remote Labor Camp . en-US . wsj.com . 2023-11-02 . 18 June 2023.
  17. News: Timeline of Trevor Reed's detention in Russia and release . 2023-01-01 . ABC News . en.
  18. News: Yilek . Caitlin . U.S. businessman serving sentence for bribery in Russia now arrested for "espionage" . en-US . CBS News . 2023-11-20 . 17 August 2023.
  19. News: This American teacher also sits in a Russian jail, worried nobody cares . en-US . Washington Post . 2022-07-29 . 0190-8286.
  20. News: Drug smuggling case of former U.S. embassy employee Fogel sent to court - Russian Interior Ministry . en-US . Interfax . 2022-07-29.
  21. News: Lebedev . Filipp . 2022-12-09 . U.S. citizen Sarah Krivanek deported from Russia . en . Reuters . 2023-01-01.
  22. Web site: Klemack . John Cádiz . California Teacher Returns to LAX After Being Imprisoned in Russia . 2023-01-01 . NBC Los Angeles . en-US.
  23. News: Kofsky . Jared . Houston-area man detained in Russia for months due to 'political purposes,' Rep. Kevin Brady says . en-US . abc13.com . 2023-11-20 . 3 August 2022.
  24. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg64npg33r3o.amp
  25. News: Williams . Abigail . State Department investigating Case of Detained American in Russia . en-US . nbcnews.com . 2023-11-20 . 12 June 2023.
  26. 2023-10-19.
  27. News: Koenig . Melissa . Guzman . Alyssa . Russia detains US citizen on drugs charges — which can carry 20 years in prison . en-US . nypost.com . 2024-08-06 . 9 January 2024.
  28. News: Land . Olivia . Vincent . Isabel . California amateur ballerina detained in Russia on suspicion of treason, faces life in prison for donating $51 to Ukraine: report . en-US . nypost.com . 2024-08-06 . 20 February 2024.
  29. News: McEntyre . Nicholas . US soldier Gordon Black ‘lured’ to Russia learns his fate after he stole, threatened to kill his girlfriend he met in South Korea . en-US . nypost.com . 2024-08-06 . 18 June 2024.
  30. Web site: The longest-serving overseas American prisoner goes on hunger strike . 2022-07-29 . The longest-serving overseas American prisoner goes on hunger strike . en.
  31. Web site: A/HRC/WGAD/2022/76 .
  32. Web site: Family of Texas Green Beret jailed still awaits son's return . 2022-07-29 . spectrumlocalnews.com . en.