Executive Order 14348: Strengthening Efforts To Protect U.S. Nationals From Wrongful Detention Abroad
President: Donald J. Trump
Authorized State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention designations and related response measures; the Secretary of State later designated Iran and Afghanistan under this framework.
Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 14348 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 14348 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.
What does Executive Order 14348 do?
EO 14348 authorized the Secretary of State to designate a foreign country as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention based on specified conduct and to coordinate sanctions, visa, travel, export and other lawful measures. State Department releases later designated Iran on February 27, 2026 and Afghanistan on March 9, 2026. A designation is an executive determination under the order; each sanction or restriction still requires its own authority and implementation step.
Later evidence reviewed September 27, 2026: State Department releases document two country designations under the order.
Reading the operative provisions of Executive Order 14348
EO 14348 creates a framework for the Secretary of State to designate a country as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention and coordinate a response. It authorizes diplomatic and other measures intended to deter governments from wrongfully detaining U.S. nationals. The Federal Register text of EO 14348 sets the criteria and response tools. It does not guarantee the release of a detained person or replace consular assistance.
The designation is a foreign-policy determination by the Secretary of State, based on the order’s criteria and evidence. Measures may include diplomatic restrictions or other actions allowed by law. A designation of a country does not mean every detention in that country is wrongful, and it does not eliminate the need to assess an individual case, secure access and communicate with the detained person’s family.
The State Department later designated Iran and Afghanistan under this framework, as the page records. Those designations are implementation evidence, while the order remains the source of the process. The practical effect depends on diplomatic engagement, allied coordination and the target government’s response. U.S. nationals facing detention should use current State Department guidance and consular channels; the executive order is a policy tool, not a personal legal remedy.
Before and after
Before the order
The Levinson Act and existing sanctions, visa and hostage-recovery authorities addressed wrongful detention without this country-designation label.
After the order
The order created a designation process and menu of possible lawful responses.
The Secretary of State later used the designation authority for Iran and Afghanistan.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary of State | Make or terminate country designations under stated criteria | Country-specific |
| State and Treasury | Coordinate lawful response measures | After designation, as appropriate |
| Agencies | Protect and advise U.S. nationals and pursue releases | Ongoing |
What happened next
EO 14348 signed.
Published in the Federal Register.
Iran designated as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention.
Afghanistan designated under the order.
Designation releases and the order's legal limits reviewed.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
The order relies on the Levinson Act and other existing authorities. A designation can guide executive action but does not itself impose every listed sanction, override due process or alter another country's law.
Sources by type
If a source is unavailable, first check the cited publisher or another official repository. The cited publisher remains the authority.
Primary and official sources
Orders, laws, court records and official implementation material.
- State Department — Wrongful detention (opens in a new tab) Official record
- State Department — Iran designation (opens in a new tab) Official record
- State Department — Afghanistan designation (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 27, 2026. How we research →