Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025

This bill creates a new designation for foreign countries that unlawfully detain U.S. citizens, allowing the State Department to label such nations as "State Sponsors of Unlawful or Wrongful Detention" based on specific criteria like failing to release detained Americans within 30 days or showing complicity. Designations require congressional approval within six months or expire automatically, and the State Department must submit detailed reports to Congress about the rationale, actions taken to prevent detentions, and potential sanctions. The law mandates annual briefings to Congress on targeted countries (including Iran, Russia, and Venezuela) and requires the department to review existing tools like visa restrictions, aid cuts, and sanctions to deter future detentions. It does not alter how detentions are legally determined but establishes a formal process to address them diplomatically.