California Assembly Bill 3027 (AB 3027), which aimed to establish a training program for law enforcement to identify and address “transnational repression,” has failed to move forward after being stalled in the State Senate Appropriations Committee.
The bill, introduced by Democrat Assembly member Jasmeet Bains, who is California’s only Sikh state legislator, was motivated by the killing of Khalistani Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June 2023. The legislation highlighted concerns about transnational repression by governments such as Russia, China, Iran, and India, which allegedly target dissidents living abroad.
AB 3027 was first introduced by Bains in February 2024 and gained unanimous bipartisan support in the Assembly Public Safety Committee in April. The bill also received backing from various law enforcement agencies, including the California State Sheriff’s Association, which recognized the need for state-level training to combat foreign governments’ repression tactics within the U.S.
However, the bill faced significant opposition from Indian American advocacy groups, including the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and the Coalition of Hindus in North America (CoHNA). These organizations argued that the bill was redundant, as federal laws already address transnational repression offences. They also expressed concern that the bill unfairly singled out India by grouping it with countries like Russia and Iran without acknowledging the threat posed by pro-Khalistan extremism, which they claim has targeted Hindu communities in California and across North America.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the HAF celebrated the bill’s failure to advance, stating, “Like the SB403 caste bill, this bill implicitly targeted Indian Americans, lumped India in with Iran and Russia, and failed to mention violent pro-Khalistan extremism that has targeted the Hindu community of California, nationwide and across North America.“ The organization also emphasized its role in opposing the bill, highlighting its efforts to educate lawmakers on the dangers posed by extremist elements within the Khalistan movement.
#Breaking | California’s #AB3027 “transnational repression bill” fails to advance out of the CA Senate Appropriations Committee!
Like the #SB403 caste bill, this bill implicitly targeted Indian Americans, lumped India in with Iran and Russia, and failed to mention violent… pic.twitter.com/rasLp8mNnZ
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) August 15, 2024
CoHNA echoed similar sentiments, expressing relief that the bill did not progress. “Last week, CoHNA filed a formal letter of opposition to California’s Assembly Bill 3027, detailing our concerns with the bill as it is currently written. The bill seeks to tackle ‘transnational aggression‘ at the state level, when a federal law to do so already exists,” the organization stated. They added that their advocacy, including meetings with lawmakers and discussions with the bill’s author, was instrumental in halting the legislation.
Supporters of AB 3027 had argued that the bill was necessary to equip local law enforcement with the tools needed to protect vulnerable communities from foreign government repression. However, the strong pushback from Indian American groups, who viewed the bill as targeting their community and ignoring other threats, ultimately contributed to its failure in the State Senate.
The debate over AB 3027 has brought attention to the broader issue of how California addresses transnational repression and the balance between state and federal responsibilities in protecting residents from foreign influence and violence. For now, the bill’s defeat is seen as a victory by those who believe it unfairly singled out certain communities, while proponents of the measure are left to consider their next steps in addressing the issue at the state level.
(With inputs from New India Abroad)
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