FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the agency is working to eliminate the number of American hostages held captive overseas.
“My singular promise to you in this community is that I will do everything as the director of the FBI to marshal the resources necessary to make sure that no other American family feels that pain,” Patel told attendees Thursday at a State Department event honoring hostages and their families, The Hill reported.
Patel stated that the Trump administration is working to bring home Americans from various countries, including Russia and Venezuela, as well as secure the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, according to a report from The Associated Press.
“We still don’t have everybody back,” he said. “Whatever lawful authorities we have at the FBI, we are going to give 24/7, 365 days to make sure that we zero out this number and to make sure we prevent others from going into situations that you are now all too familiar with.”
American Marc Fogel was released from Russian detention last month after the Trump administration negotiated a deal involving a Russian citizen held in a U.S. prison.
A key responsibility of the FBI is managing hostage cases involving American citizens.
Adam Boehler, President Donald Trump’s nominee for special envoy for hostage affairs at the State Department, was also present at the event, as he would be leading negotiations with foreign countries, The Hill added.
“When the president asked me if there was any job that I thought I wanted to focus on,” Boehler said at the event, “I told him that this was the only one I would look at because I think there’s nothing more important for this country than for everyone to know that if they’re abroad and they’re taken, that the country has their back.”
Earlier this week, the FBI director announced the first major arrest since he was sworn in to lead the bureau.
Patel took to X on Monday night to announce that the FBI’s Virginia Homeland Security Taskforce arrested dozens of MS-13 and other gang members.
“Today the FBI’s Virginia Homeland Security Taskforce arrested 39 individuals, including MS13 and other gang members, as part of our mission to secure the border and enforce immigration laws. Thank you to all our partners bravely doing their jobs and executing the mission,” Patel wrote.
On Monday, the FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the arrest of a high-ranking MS-13 leader who controlled gang activities in the United States, Mexico, and Europe.
When officers arrested David Alejandro Orellana-Aleman, 27, on February 27 in Hyattsville, Maryland, they also arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador who was charged in his home country with having a gun, extortion, and supporting terrorism.
“The apprehension of David Alejandro Orellana-Aleman strikes a significant blow to the leadership and organization of the MS-13 terrorist organization,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations acting Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. “This arrest speaks volumes about the cooperation enjoyed between ICE and the FBI. We will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders from our communities.”
“Maryland is immediately safer because of this arrest. Working together, we took custody of one of the highest-ranking gang members in the United States,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “David Alejandro Orellana-Aleman is no longer in his alleged position of power directing violence. His arrest demonstrates the success we can have when we collectively investigate and disrupt violent criminals seeking to exploit our communities.”
