Senior official said there will be 'five chance ' that family of American held hostages overseas will face jail or prosecution for trying to free loved ones . A National Counterterrorism Center advisory group is set to recommend the move which would mark radical shift in US hostage policy . Family of US contractor Warren Weinstein , who was taken by Al-Qaeda in Pakistan in 2011 , paid a $ 250,000 ransom to try and secure his release . Journalist James Foley 's mother said Obama administration told her it was illegal to raise a ransom to free her son . James Foley was beheaded in August 2014 by Islamic State fighters .
Senior official said there will be 'zero chance ' that family of American held hostages overseas will face jail or prosecution for trying to free loved ones . A National Counterterrorism Center advisory group is set to recommend the move which would mark radical shift in US hostage policy . Family of US contractor Warren Weinstein , who was taken by Al-Qaeda in Pakistan in 2011 , paid a $ 250,000 ransom to try and secure his release . Journalist James Foley 's mother said Obama administration told her it was illegal to raise a ransom to free her son . James Foley was beheaded in August 2014 by Islamic State fighters .