WASHINGTON D.C., DC — President Joe Biden met with the parents of Austin Tice in Washington D.C. on Monday.
Austin is a Houston native and journalist who disappeared after being abducted in the Middle East in 2012.
The meeting with Marc and Debra Tice comes months after the pair has pleaded with the Biden administration for help to get their son back on U.S. soil.
According to a statement from the White House, Biden told Austin's parents that he will continue to not only work to bring their son home but all other Americans who are held hostage and wrongfully detained worldwide.
"Today’s meeting built on multiple meetings and conversations between the Tice family and the President’s national security team, which will remain in regular contact with the Tices and other families of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. We appreciate the bravery and candor of families enduring these harrowing experiences, and we remain committed to supporting them and, most importantly, reuniting them with their loved ones," the White House released in a statement.
The last known confirmation of Austin being alive was more than nine years ago when a video emerged showing the freelance journalist tied up and blindfolded, according to CBS News.
Austin's parents have been actively pursuing to bring their son home since his disappearance. They have called on several presidents to interfere and initiate diplomatic talks to bring their son back to the U.S.
During Donald Trump's presidential run, he sent two administration officials to Syria to try to negotiate Austin's release, but officials failed to secure his freedom, CBS News reported.
During that time, Syrian officials told CBS News that the Syrian government said no discussion about U.S. hostages could take place as long as U.S. military forces remained in Syria.
Last week, Marine veteran Trevor Reed was returned to the U.S. from Russia after being detained in Russia since the summer of 2019.
KHOU 11 reporter Lauren Talarico is following this story and will have more on KHOU 11 News at 10 p.m.