SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Diya TV) — A California bill aimed at curbing foreign government harassment of diaspora communities is moving forward amid a heated debate over civil liberties, public safety, and law enforcement training.
Senate Bill 509, introduced by Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced), addresses transnational repression — a tactic used by some foreign governments to surveil, intimidate, or silence dissidents, asylum seekers, and ethnic minorities living in the United States. The bill proposes specialized training for local law enforcement to recognize and respond to these threats while working alongside federal agencies.
“Communities across our state are being targeted by foreign governments simply because individuals have exercised their rights to free speech,” Caballero said during a recent hearing. “SB 509 helps ensure law enforcement knows how to protect them.”
The bill arrives at a time of increasing concern over international efforts to silence dissent beyond national borders. According to the U.S. State Department, authoritarian regimes have increasingly turned to tactics such as harassment, online surveillance, and threats against family members abroad to stifle opposition.
Supporters of the bill include immigrant advocacy groups and individuals with firsthand experience of such repression. Among them is Hammed Yazdan Pana, an Iranian refugee who testified that many in his community fear reporting threats because of previous negative encounters with law enforcement or fear of retaliation.
“This bill gives us hope,” Yazdan Pana said. “We want to feel safe speaking up, and we need to trust the system that’s meant to protect us.”
Advocates like the controversial group Sikhs for Justice and Hindus for Human Rights argue that police often lack the cultural understanding or legal knowledge to recognize the signs of transnational repression, leading to underreporting and inadequate responses. SB 509 seeks to bridge this gap by requiring training on how to identify foreign government threats, protect vulnerable individuals, and document cases appropriately.
However, critics warn that the legislation could politicize police training and lead to overreach. Organizations such as the Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus of North America expressed concern that training could inadvertently encourage profiling or bias against members of certain ethnic or religious communities.
“This bill risks targeting our community for its geopolitical beliefs,” one opponent testified, pointing to current tensions involving India and concerns over religious and political freedom. The measure has sparked broader conversations about the role of local law enforcement in responding to international conflicts and how best to balance civil liberties with national security.
“Training officers to spot repression is vital,” said one committee member. “But we must also ensure we’re not empowering the same kinds of surveillance and intimidation we’re trying to stop.”
Despite the divided views, lawmakers acknowledged the urgency of addressing a problem that touches multiple immigrant communities — from Chinese dissidents to Iranian activists and Uyghur Muslims. The bill notes that transnational repression is not tied to any one country but represents a growing global threat to free expression.
To ease concerns, the legislation emphasizes collaboration with federal partners and adherence to constitutional protections, aiming to create a legal framework that ensures both community safety and civil rights.SB 509 now moves forward in the legislative process, with further hearings expected in the coming weeks.
If passed, the bill would mark one of the most comprehensive state-level efforts in the U.S. to address transnational repression, a phenomenon more commonly tracked at the federal level. “Protecting freedom of speech doesn’t stop at the water’s edge,” Caballero said. “It must extend to every person who calls this country home.”
