Bringing Americans Home 2020

Having a son or daughter, husband or mother taken hostage or detained in a foreign land is one of the most frightening experiences imaginable. On April 2, The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation in partnership with New America present the findings of the 2020 edition of its annual study, “Bringing Americans Home,” the second non-governmental review of U.S. hostage and detainee policy. The report is based on interviews with 25 American hostages, detainees, family members, and representatives and provides a unique insight into the experiences of Americans held abroad and their families.

To discuss the report and efforts to bring Americans held abroad home in this virtual event are Diane Foley, President and Founder of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation; Cynthia Loertscher, the report’s author and primary researcher; Rachel Briggs, Executive Director of Hostage US; and Lisa Monaco, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU School of Law and former Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.

Participants include Diane Foley, President and Founder, James W. Foley Legacy Foundation; Cynthia Loertscher, Author and Primary Researcher, "Bringing Americans Home"; Rachel Briggs, Recipient of an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen in recognition of her work with hostages Executive Director of Hostage US; and, Lisa Monaco Former Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Reiss Center for Law and Security at NYU School of Law and Partner, O'Melveny and Myers. Moderated by Peter Bergen, Vice President, New America