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Having a son or daughter, husband or mother taken hostage or detained in a foreign land is one of the most frightening experiences imaginable. Recent years have brought a growing challenge of states wrongfully detaining Americans while the situation facing Americans held hostage by non-state groups has evolved.

To discuss the results of the Foley Foundation’s annual research report, “Bringing Americans Home” in this virtual event, ������Ƶ in partnership with the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation welcomes a range of experts to discuss the current state of U.S. efforts to bring Americans held hostage abroad home.

Panel 1: The Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Landscape

Chris Costa
Executive Director, International Spy Museum
Former Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council

Brian Jenkins,
Senior Adviser to the President, RAND Corporation

Ali Soufan,
Chairman and CEO, The Soufan Group
Former FBI Supervisory Agent

Cynthia Loertscher,��
Director of Research, Hostage Advocacy, and Legislative Affairs, James W. Foley Legacy Foundation

Peter Bergen,�� (moderator)
Vice President, ������Ƶ

Panel 2: Recovering U.S. Hostages and Wrongful Detainees: Challenges and Urgency

Mickey Bergman,
Vice President and Executive Director, The Richardson Center

Jared Genser,
Managing Director of Perseus Strategies

Nizar Zakka,
President, Hostage Aid Worldwide

Diane Foley,��
President and Founder, James W. Foley Legacy Foundation

Neda Sharghi,
Sister of Emad Shargi, a U.S. citizen wrongfully detained in Iran since 2018

Amna Nawaz, (moderator)
Chief Correspondent, PBS NewsHour