During “Hostage Week,” May 4–8, the Bring Our Families Home (BOFH) Campaign—supported by the Foley Foundation through programmatic, financial, and logistical assistance—installed an exhibit inside the halls of Congress featuring 11 American hostages whose families lead the Campaign’s advocacy. In prior years, the Campaign installed multi-story outdoor murals of American hostages. This year, with assistance from Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, it brought its message directly to Congress. The hostages are unjustly held in Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Throughout the week, BOFH families and former hostages gathered on Capitol Hill to view the exhibit and continue their advocacy. The Foley Foundation, together with partners Hostage US and the McCain Institute, hosted a Capitol Hill luncheon for families and returnees with congressional staff. These engagements enabled survivors and family members to speak directly with those shaping legislative policy behind the scenes, sharing their experiences and highlighting the challenges they face.
This advocacy has helped open doors for collaboration with congressional offices on targeted policy reforms, including improving transparency and responsiveness in the wrongful detention designation process, recognizing coercive exit bans as a form of wrongful detention, strengthening support for U.S. legal permanent residents held abroad, providing financial assistance to families during captivity, and enhancing reintegration support for returned captives. The Foundation and its partners continue to work closely with these offices to advance these and other legislative solutions.
