SACRAMENTO, California — The Sikh Coalition has issued a written statement providing a crucial update on the much-anticipated transnational repression training for state and local law enforcement officials in California. A copy of the written release is available with Sikh Siyasat News (SSN).
The training initiative follows Governor Gavin Newsom’s commitment made in October of 2025, when he chose to veto Senate Bill 509 (SB 509) despite overwhelming support from bipartisan legislators and diverse interfaith communities. In his veto message, the Governor noted that the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) had already created a training module to address these specific foreign threats.
Citing the “persistent threat of transnational repression,” the Sikh Coalition proactively engaged with CalOES to seek transparency regarding the curriculum’s timeline and content. The organization’s outreach included a formal letter signed by 25 gurdwaras from across the state requesting a public update.
Following a recent meeting with CalOES personnel, the Sikh Coalition confirmed that the training is currently being “piloted,” or tested, with a comprehensive rollout anticipated for this summer.
According to the official release, “The top priority will be to get the training to law enforcement agencies in cities and other jurisdictions with large Sikh populations, but the training will be available to officers across the state.” To encourage participation, the curriculum will be certified by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, and officers will be incentivized to complete it as part of a wider counterterrorism training certificate.
Crucially, the statement noted that, as previously confirmed in an earlier course outline, “the course will include a module that identifies India as a perpetrator of transnational repression.”
The Sikh Coalition clarified that neither they nor any other community-based organizations had a role in developing the training or its specific contents. However, the organization expressed gratitude for the recent dialogue, emphasizing that they “value a strong working relationship with CalOES and are committed to keeping them up-to-date on matters of transnational repression that affect our community.”
While awaiting the state-level rollout, the organization is urging community members to advocate for broader federal protections. Supporters are encouraged to use our free advocacy tool to contact their members of Congress regarding the bipartisan Transnational Repression Policy Act, which the coalition describes as “an essential step towards keeping all U.S.-based communities safe against foreign threats.”
