OREANDA-NEWS The executive order aims to boost the government's support for the families of American nationals wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad, including by directing parts of the federal government to expand their engagement with them by sharing relevant information on the status of those detained and Washington's efforts to secure their return, according to the officials.

The new executive order authorizes departments and agencies to impose costs and consequences on those who are involved, including financial sanctions and visa bans, the officials added.The new executive order authorizes departments and agencies to impose costs and consequences on those who are involved, including financial sanctions and visa bans, the officials added.Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Burma and North Korea will be designated as nations with elevated risk of wrongful detention by the State Department, the officials also said.

The new "D" indicator on the State Department’s travel advisories are intended to warn Americans of the risk they face traveling to designated countries and dissuade travel there, the officials said.Experts across the US government have been working on the executive order for a considerable length of time in order to ensure that the order is set and ready to be brought to Biden’s desk, the officials added.Biden will continue to track cases of US hostages at the highest levels, including through direct engagement with National Security Council and State Department leadership, according to the officials.