White House Hostage Policy Leaves Risk On Table For Third Parties

Last month, the White House announced a change in its policy toward overseas hostage-takings of U.S. citizens. The new policy, accompanied by an Executive Order, aims to effect policy changes at home and overseas, including a focus on increased and continuous collaboration with a hostage victim's family. The new policy also reaffirms the government's longstanding policy of making no concession to hostage-takers, and "will focus on exploring all appropriate options to ensure the safe recovery of [the families'] loved ones." The policy report also references a statement issued by the Department of Justice, noting that the DOJ "does not intend to add to families' pain in such cases by suggesting that they could face criminal prosecution."  The DOJ statement acknowledges that some families have expressed concerns that their efforts to retrieve their loved ones from terrorist hostage-takers could lead to prosecution for providing material support to designated