New Bill Aims to Train Local Cops on 'Transnational Repression': Here's What That Means

The "Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Counter Transnational Repression Act" (SEC. 1) is basically about getting local and state law enforcement up to speed on dealing with foreign governments trying to intimidate or silence people in the U.S. It adds a new section (890E) to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, specifically focused on this issue of "transnational repression." (SEC. 2)

Cracking Down on Foreign Interference

The core of the bill is a new training program for state, local, tribal, campus, and even territorial law enforcement. This includes the folks working in the National Network of Fusion Centers. The training, run by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (or similar), is designed to help them:

• Spot instances of transnational repression and related terrorism threats.
• Properly collect and record relevant info.
• Share that info with groups that might be targeted, like faith-based organizations, schools, and specific communities.
• Figure out who's at risk and who's already been targeted.
• Teach people and communities how to stay safe, both physically and online, and connect victims with resources like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

What Counts as 'Transnational Repression'?

This is where it gets interesting. The bill defines "transnational repression" (SEC. 2) as actions by a foreign government (or someone working for them) to:

• Coerce, harass, or threaten individuals (or their families) to get them to do what the foreign government wants.
• Harass or coerce people to shut them up or retaliate against them for exercising their First Amendment rights (like free speech).
• Commit extrajudicial killings (basically, assassinations).

All of this has to happen in the U.S., or be directed at someone who is a U.S. person.

Tech and Teamwork

The bill also pushes for research and development of technology to make this training more accessible and improve how different levels of law enforcement work together to deal with these threats. It requires coordination between the Under Secretary for Science and Technology and the Assistant Secretary for State and Local Law Enforcement. (SEC. 2)

Keeping an Eye on Things

Finally, the bill requires the Comptroller General to report back to Congress within two years on how all of this is being implemented (SEC. 2). Think of it as a check-in to see if the training is actually happening and if it's working.

Real-World Implications

While the goal is to protect people from genuine threats, the broad definition of "transnational repression" could be a double-edged sword. For example, if an activist group is highly critical of a foreign government's policies, could their activities be misconstrued as being influenced by a foreign power, leading to unnecessary scrutiny? Similarly, the information-sharing aspect could be a concern if it leads to profiling of certain communities. The bill's success will really depend on how these definitions are applied in practice, and whether the training emphasizes protecting civil liberties alongside national security.