DAY 1,213Michael "Travis" Leake · American citizen · U.S. Air Force veteran
Myth vs. record
Is Travis Leake officially designated wrongfully detained?
Myth
He has been officially designated wrongfully detained.
Record
He has not. His advocates have asked the State Department to designate him.
The Levinson Act lets the Secretary of State determine that an American is wrongfully detained, which moves the case to the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. The State Department has not made that determination for Travis. His advocates have asked it to review the record and do so.
Source: 22 U.S.C. ยง 1741; renewed request for designation, Feb. 12, 2025.
Cite this
Free Travis Leake, "Myth vs. record: Is Travis Leake officially designated wrongfully detained?," https://freetravisleake.com/fact-check/designated/, updated September 30, 2026.