Tenney welcomes back Ryan Corbett, who was wrongfully detained by Taliban for nearly 900 days

Photo from Tenney’s Office: Claudia Tenney welcomes home Ryan Corbett and his family during a celebration today at the Dansville High School Gym.

Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney

DANSVILLE – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today hosted a Welcome Home Ceremony to celebrate the safe return of Ryan Corbett, a Dansville native who was wrongfully detained by the Taliban from Aug. 10, 2022, to Jan. 21, 2025.

Ryan Corbett, a husband, father, and native of Western New York, was wrongfully detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan on August 10, 2022, and held without charge for 893 days.

After learning of Ryan’s case in 2023, Rep. Tenney became a leading advocate for his release and well-being.

“Our family is deeply grateful for Congresswoman Tenney’s help in bringing Ryan home after 893 days of wrongful detention by the Taliban in Afghanistan,” said Anna Corbett, Ryan’s wife. “She not only showed personal concern for Ryan’s health and safety, offering encouraging words to the children and I but also put her words to action by pushing for the Wrongful Detainee designation, introducing a House Resolution asking for Ryan’s immediate release, inviting me as her personal guest to the State of the Union Address and setting up a meeting with the incoming National Security Advisor during my trip to Florida. We will be forever grateful for her support.”

Tenney successfully pushed for his official designation as a wrongful detainee by the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2023.

Additionally, Rep. Tenney introduced H.Res. 965, a resolution calling for Ryan’s immediate release, which passed the House in June 2024. Rep Tenney also played a key role in arranging a January 2025 meeting between the Corbett family and the Trump administration’s National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

“After nearly 900 extremely challenging days for the Corbett Family, NY-24 and the nation are thrilled to welcome Ryan Corbett home,” Tenney said. “The strength and courage displayed by Anna, Ketsia, Miriam, and Caleb has been truly astonishing, and it has been a privilege to work alongside them in this fight to get Ryan home. Today’s event celebrated Ryan’s safe return to our community and demonstrated our profound gratitude to all, including President Trump and National Security Advisory Waltz, who made Ryan’s return possible.”