§ 1732. — Release of citizens imprisoned by foreign governments.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC1732]
TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
CHAPTER 23--PROTECTION OF CITIZENS ABROAD
Sec. 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. Sec. 2001; Pub. L. 101-222, Sec. 9, Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat.
1900.)
Codification
R.S. Sec. 2001 derived from act July 27, 1868, ch. 249, Sec. 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''.
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, set out as notes under section 1701 of Title
50, War and National Defense.
