For several families of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, a virtual meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday did little to reassure them that the administration is making the safe return of their loved ones a priority. 

Participants who spoke with Al-Monitor described an at times tense video call with Blinken on Wednesday, with one calling it a “box-checking” exercise. The family members, some of whom requested anonymity because the secretary told participants the call was off-the-record, were encouraged by Blinken's decision to meet with them virtually but said more should be done to bring their relatives home.

The Biden administration says that securing the release of unlawfully detained Americans is a top priority, and in a statement on Wednesday, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the department will “continue to partner with families through regular and transparent communication.”  

“Secretary Blinken affirmed that working to bring their loved ones home is something he is personally focused on,” Price said in a readout of the call.