Families Now Allowed to Pay Ransom for US Hostages

With more than 30 Americans currently being held hostage abroad, President Barack Obama said Tuesday that their families can pay ransom to their captors without fear of federal prosecution.

The move comes after some families, faced with trying to secure loved ones from groups like ISIS, complained about threats of prosecution and confusing information from the government.

The president apologized to families who were treated like afterthoughts in their darkest hours.

"I'm making it clear that these families are to be treated like what they are, our trusted partners and active partners, in the recovery of their loved ones," Obama said in a statement from the White House. "We are all on the same team and nobody cares more about bringing home these Americans than their own families."

U.S. policy that prohibits the government from paying ransoms or making concessions to terrorists remains in place. But critics fear allowing families to pay ransoms puts Americans at greater risk of being kidnapped abroad.

"The concern that I have is that by lifting that long-held principle, you could be endangering more Americans here and overseas," House Speaker John Boehner said.

In an effort to streamline communications with families, the president is creating a Hostage Fusion Cell housed with the FBI that will coordinate recovery efforts among different government agencies.