WASHINGTON (Diya TV) – Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced the Transnational Repression Reporting Act of 2024, a bipartisan bill that seeks to address what he says is a growing issue of foreign governments targeting individuals in the United States and American citizens abroad. The proposed legislation requires the U.S. Attorney General, in coordination with relevant federal agencies, to report on instances of transnational repression, ensuring greater transparency and accountability for these actions.

The bill is being supported by a number of Sikh community groups in the aftermath of the 2023 alleged killing plot of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of Sikhs for Justice, a man India has designated as a terrorist. This alleged attack, currently being litigated through the Department of Justice, has raised concerns about the increasing use of such repressive tactics against individuals in the U.S. with ties to political, ethnic, or religious groups seen as opposition by foreign governments.

“Increasingly, we are seeing foreign governments attempt to intimidate, harm, or even kill individuals in the U.S. who oppose their regimes,” said Schiff. “This bill is an effort to ensure that we have a clear understanding of these actions and are transparent in addressing them.”

Transnational repression refers to actions taken by governments to suppress opposition beyond their borders. These actions can include physical and digital harassment, surveillance, cyberattacks, threats, and violent acts like kidnappings or assassination attempts. The individuals most commonly targeted are political dissidents, human rights activists, journalists, and members of ethnic or religious minority groups.

According to the FBI, foreign governments often use these tactics against individuals they view as a threat, including those who criticize government policies or expose corruption. The Transnational Repression Reporting Act would require the U.S. government to track and report these instances, providing greater accountability for foreign governments involved in such activities.

The proposed legislation has garnered support from a variety of political leaders. In addition to Schiff, the bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), James McGovern (D-Mass.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.). 

Advocacy groups voicing their backing for the bill include Human Rights Watch, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), Sikh Coalition, Sikh Assembly of America, American Sikh Caucus Committee, International Defenders Council, Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, Middle East Democracy Center, Hong Kong Democracy Council, Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), and the Falun Dafa Association.

“The Transnational Repression Reporting Act is an important step in safeguarding the civil rights and freedoms of all Americans,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF. “Transparency around these actions is critical to ensuring the safety of vulnerable communities.”

Harman Singh, Executive Director of the Sikh Coalition, added “we hope this bill helps bring accountability to those responsible for such actions,” Singh said.

The bill’s introduction is part of a broader conversation about transnational repression and its impact on national security.

Reports from The Washington Post suggest agents of India’s intelligence agency were involved in planning the attack against Pannun, who is a U.S. and Canadian citizen. The U.S. government has not imposed direct diplomatic or economic consequences on India to date.

The Sikh Coalition endorsed the Transnational Repression Reporting Act, citing the lack of concrete action by the U.S. in response to these threats. “This bill ensures that these acts are taken seriously, and it strengthens the U.S. government’s ability to respond to such violations,” said Deepali Gill, Federal Policy Manager at the Sikh Coalition.

Representative Schiff, who is the odds on favorite to be California’s next Senator, has previously advocated for stronger measures to address transnational repression, including the Stop Transnational Repression Act, introduced in 2022. The new bill builds on these efforts by requiring the U.S. government to gather and publicly report information on transnational repression, ensuring greater oversight and action.


It should be noted that India has denied all accusations of being involved in the plot to kill Pannun, a man who has made continual threats towards Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Air India, the airline that was bombed twice in the 1980s at the hands of what is strongly believed to be a group of Khalistani extremists.