Having a loved one taken hostage is terrifying. You are not alone.
Having a loved one taken hostage or wrongfully detained in a foreign country is terrifying. You may not know where to go, or who to turn to, and the feelings of fear and loneliness can be overwhelming. Hostage US is here so that you don’t have to go through this by yourself. While we do not work to free hostages, our experienced team will be by your side every step of the way to offer the guidance and support you need to get through this terrible ordeal – all free of charge.
Initial Considerations
Knowing who to turn to, what questions to ask, and who to trust can make the initial phase of a hostage situation even more alienating and terrifying.
Hostage US is here to guide you through the intricacies of your situation.
Coping During a Kidnapping
Balancing daily commitments while advocating for your loved one’s release can be overwhelming.
Hostage US Wellness Coaches work with you to develop coping skills, and build resilience.
Practical Challenges
Whether you need legal counsel, IRS guidance, or financial advice, our partners are here to help.
Hostage US will connect you with pro-bono service providers to help you tackle your biggest challenges.
Preparing for Resolution
It’s important to think ahead and prepare for your loved one’s return. Whether it’s ensuring their health insurance is active, they have a home to return to, or their finances are organized, Hostage US will help both practically and emotionally prepare for what is to come.
FAQ’s for Families
Hostage US provides a range of free support services to families facing the challenges of a hostage situation. A dedicated team member will work closely with you, ensuring you always have a reliable and knowledgeable ally by your side. Whether you need a sounding board or assistance with difficult challenges, our team is here to ease your burden and help make life a little bit easier.
Additionally, through our extensive network of pro bono service providers, we can connect you with mental and physical health support, legal experts, financial advisors, media consultants, and regional specialists. These resources will empower you to make informed decisions that are best for you and your family.
As soon as you hear that a loved one has been kidnapped, you need to call the US Embassy or Consulate in the country they were taken. You can find the emergency contact information for each country’s response team through a simple internet search. Simply type in “(Name of Country) + US Embassy + Emergency Contact Number”. Even if your loved one is in a country without an Embassy, the search will redirect you to various options.
You may also wish to contact your local FBI field office. You can find the information for your local office with an internet inquiry by typing (name of city and state where you live) + FBI Field Office Contact Information”. In addition, you may wish to contact the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell by emailing: HRFCfamilies@ic.fbi.gov
NOTE: Hostage US is NOT a response organization and cannot assist with bringing anyone home. You must work through the FBI and / or Consular Affairs for response assistance.
When contacting us, please be sure to provide the following information so that we can better serve you:
- Your relationship to the hostage
- The nationality of both yourself and of the hostage
- The country where your loved one is being held, and if known, who is holding them.
- Tell us if you are in contact with the US Government, and if so, which offices have you connected with.
Once a team member has received your message, someone will respond within 36 hours.
Please remember that we are not a response organization, and if this is an emergency, you must contact law enforcement.
Contact the U.S. State Department
If your loved one was arrested in a foreign country, please contact U.S. Department of State’s Overseas Citizen Services Office at (888) 407-4747 from within the U.S. and Canada, or +1 (202) 501-4444 from overseas; this will connect you with the nearest embassy or consulate who can assist with the situation.
Contact your Local FBI Field Office
If your loved one has been taken by a non-government entity, such as a criminal group, gang, or terrorist organization, please contact your local FBI Field office. You can find the information for your nearest office here.
No. All support from Hostage US is delivered free of charge.
Hostage US is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization. While we collaborate with the US Government to provide the best possible support to families and returning hostages, we operate separately and are not part of the government.
Confidentiality is at the core of what we do. We will never inform the government about our contact with you unless you explicitly grant us permission. Additionally, we do not share any information you provide with the government. You can trust that everything you share with us will remain within our organization.
Hostage US never shares information about the families or former hostages we support unless you explicitly ask us to do so. We respect your need for privacy and will never reveal which families we are supporting, nor will we ever pass information you have given us to anyone outside the organization.
Confidentiality is the backbone of our work so that you can trust that anything you tell us will stay within the organization.
Hostage US is not involved in operational responses to kidnapping. We are not able to advise on negotiations or other efforts to secure the release of your loved one. What we can do is help you navigate the situation so that you are better prepared to work with whoever is leading negotiations.
Hostage US does not give advice on the payment of ransom. Many governments have a long-standing policy not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers, and in many countries the payment of ransom is illegal.
Your decision to go to the media must be well thought through. It is important to seek advice from those working your case before commenting in the media as it can have both positive and negative repercussions. Hostage US can connect you to a media consultant who can talk you through the pros and cons of going public.
Hostage US can help you to access information about the group holding your loved one or the country or region where they are being held. We will work with you to understand what you want to know and then help to identify experts who can be trusted to maintain confidentiality around you and the event.
In the meantime, you may wish to visit the CIA World Factbook website which is a good source of key social, economic and political information about every country: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
Be aware that kidnapping trends can change quickly or be inaccurate: in regions of corrupt law enforcement, kidnapping may be unreported or may be exaggerated. There are organizations and companies that offer political/security analysis of local risks. Hostage US does not offer any endorsements.
Search our Resource Library
The resource library contains practical information and articles aimed at helping families of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, and their loved ones when they are released.
