H.R. 4179 — Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025

This section establishes a process under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (i.e., authorizes sanctions and other measures against entities engaged in hostage-taking of U.S. nationals) for the Secretary of State to designate a foreign country as a State Sponsor of Unlawful or Wrongful Detention if it meets specified criteria related to the detention of U.S. nationals (e.g., failure to release a detainee within 30 days of State Department notification, government complicity, or posing risks to U.S. nationals abroad). The section specifies that such designations terminate if the Secretary certifies to Congress changed circumstances (e.g., release of detainees, policy changes, or assurances against future detentions) and that it is in the national interest; otherwise, designations automatically terminate after 6 months unless approved by a joint resolution of Congress. (Thus, unapproved designations bar redesignation for an additional 6 months, absent a new joint resolution.) The section further requires (1) a report to congressional committees within 7 days of each designation, including justification and U.S. deterrence actions; (2) an initial briefing within 60 days of enactment assessing designation of specified countries (Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro, Belarus, and China), U.S. deterrence efforts, potential Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act expansions, and multilateral progress; and (3) annual briefings on related matters.