American Dennis Coyle lands in Texas after over a year in Taliban captivity

Coyle, an academic who spent nearly two decades working in Afghanistan, was taken from his home in Kabul in January 2025 by Taliban intelligence and held in near-solitary confinement, Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler told Fox News on Tuesday, adding that Coyle committed no crime and was used as leverage.

"The United States welcomes the release of American citizen Dennis Coyle, who was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan for more than a year," Boehler said in a statement to Fox News. 

Coyle's family said he had been legally working in Afghanistan to support language communities as an academic researcher.

Rubio welcomed Coyle's release, saying it was a "positive step by the Taliban," but added that the United States is still seeking the immediate return of Mahmood Habibi, Paul Overby and all other unjustly detained Americans. 

"The Taliban must end their practice of hostage diplomacy," Rubio said. "President Trump is committed to ending unjust detentions overseas - Dennis joins over 100 Americans who have been freed in the past 15 months under his second term in office."

Fox News' Trey Yingst contributed to this report.