The families of four U.S. hostages who were murdered by ISIS pleaded with President Obama to secure the release of the only American journalist held captive in Syria.
Austin Tice, a freelance journalist and former Marine Corps officer, went missing in Syria while reporting in August 2012. Nothing has been heard of him publicly since a 43-second video surfaced online five weeks after his disappearance that showed Tice in the custody of armed men.
Nearly four years since his capture, the parents of slain U.S. hostages—James Foley, Peter Kassig, Steven Sotloff, and Kayla Mueller—demanded in a letter to Obama that he "engage boldly" and "use all appropriate means" to bring Tice back to the U.S.
The families issued the appeal a year after Obama announced changes to U.S. hostage policy allowing the government to communicate with terrorist groups in order to negotiate releases.
"We are four families bonded together by tragedy and terror," the families wrote. "We will never fully recover from the horrific outcome of our own hostage crisis. But there is something that still can be done: Bring Austin Tice safely home."
The families also condemned Obama for not mentioning Tice’s name during the April White House correspondents’ dinner where he reiterated his commitment "to fight for the release of American journalists held against their will."
Tice is currently the only known U.S. journalist held captive abroad.
"We are not asking the White House to put anyone in harm’s way, nor compromise national security," the families wrote. "We are asking the president, fully within the responsibilities and obligations of his office, to put aside any personal or election year concern, to engage boldly and to use all appropriate means to bring Austin Tice safely home as soon as possible."