This week, President Biden signed an executive order to improve the
administration's efforts to free the more than 60 U. S nationals
held hostage or who are wrongfully detained abroad. The new order
aims to increase information to their relatives and to impose sanctions
on the government and terrorist organizations that hold them captive.
But some families say the administration needs to do more to bring
their loved ones home to discuss this. I'm joined again here by Diane
Foley, whose son, James, was an American journalist kidnapped in
Syria in 2012 and killed by Isis in 2014. Since then, she's been
advocating for the freedom of Americans held abroad.
Through a foundation that bears her son's name. Diane Foley. Thank
you very much for being with us again, and we always want to say
to you. Our heart goes out to you on the loss of your son, Jim, even
though it's been eight years. Thank you, Judy. And that's partly
what was heartbreaking for me today to see so many families going
through this again, Judy
It's heartbreaking. You were here, bringing together this organization
bring our family's home unveiling a mural, but it's It's a reminder
of how much still needs to be done. You were saying exactly Judy.
These families have come together out of desperation.
They are so afraid their loved one will be yet another American who
is abandoned abroad and this executive order that we mentioned the
president has signed, among other things, holding governments, and
these so called non state actors like Isis accountable. How much
difference do you think this is going to be? Deterrence is essential.
I think our government is trying to solve this increasing problem,
Judy, So I'm very grateful for all that's happened, but the families
want their people home. And for that to happen, we need our president
to prioritize that action, which is difficult because there are so
many things that captors want, and it requires shrewd negotiation
diplomacy.
Consideration of so many of our policies and and that means I hear
you saying that the government isn't doing enough that it's one thing
to have this executive action which will hold it is an attempt to
deter these governments to hold them accountable. But you're saying
more exactly what more
Bringing our people home, Judy, we need to prioritize the return
of innocent Americans. The only reason these people have been taken
is because they're American political prisoners their prisoners because
they have an American passport. You you're talking about dealing
with governments, in some cases and with terrorist organizations,
either kind of captor.
Easier or more difficult to work with. Well, To be honest, Some of
these state actors are even more complicated because they love to
interfere with our foreign policy and use our citizens as political
pawns so they can even be more complex. More troubling, annoying,
frustrating for our government. It has to be hard, so I know it's
Complicated, but I also believe in United States of America and these
families, frankly, accounting on the president to bring some of their
loved ones home before they die. It'll be eight years since Jim was
executed in August, and their fear is that their family member won't
be able to
Um, last long enough till they can come home. So when the Biden ministrations
representative, I was just reading the special envoy for Hostage
affairs was saying today that President Biden knows every single
case he's personally committed. Do you feel that? Do you sense that
R Roger Car stands feels sad and he is so committed to this issue.
Our president obviously has a lot on his plate. Um, that bring our
family's home campaign are just as coalition of desperate families
just wanting to talk to the president. Um, and that hasn't happened.
We heard one of the points the administration makes is that there's
a
They they in order to act on some of these cases, they need to be
able to say this is a lawful a lawful detainee, or I should say illegal
detainee. Um, making that determination they suggest is a process
it is and all of these 64. Plus, I have already been wrongfully detained.
There's hundreds of others, but it is a process we need prioritization
to actually bring our people home juice.
We need to care as a nation. We need to have the back not just of
our brave soldiers, but also our brave journalists or aid workers
or businessman who go out in the world. You know, these citizens
are counting on our president, and you've said every single one of
these cases is different, but they are each very unique.
Each one is unique with a different set of circumstances. What would
come across to you? As as a sign that this administration is doing
what you're saying is taking what you're saying seriously.
This campaign is requested just a virtual
Meeting with the president.
I just, You know, uh, and doesn't have time for them. And that to
me is sad because these are our people. And I really
I think our president would care if you put heard the stories. These
are breathing, living sons, daughters, husbands, wives. To me. It's
obviously a very personal issue, and I just I know America can do
this. And I implore the president, too.
Hear the voices of his people.
One other thing I want to ask you about Diane Foley. You over the
past year have met three times with a man. One of the men responsible
for the death of your son, Jim.
Did he express?
An explanation and apology. What he did. Did you hear? He did Alexander
Cody? Um, that was part of this plea deal that he was willing to
talk to families. And Jim would have wanted me to do that. He wouldn't
have wanted me to be afraid of him. And I think it was very good
for Alexander and for me.
To be able to see each other as people.
And he did express remorse. And, of course, he had his reasons and
the sad part is everyone lost. He lost lost his citizenship. He won't
see his family again and we lost and And do you feel in any way that
in talking to him that you came away with a better understanding
of why
Something like this would happen and and how we might, how it might
be prevented.
In the future.
Well, yes, I think, um it's very
Easy to misunderstand when you never interact with someone else and
to engender like he was brought up with all this hatred of the West,
you know, uh and it was just fed in the jihadist ideology. So to
me that was important to to
Reach out to him. I mean, otherwise, it's the cycle of violence just
continues. Judy.
Diane Foley, Um, remarkable act to be able to sit down with him.
Thank you so much for talking with us. So grateful for you, Judy.