Sacramento, CA: Various Sikh groups in the United States, including the Sikh Coalition, have urged the California Assembly to pass Senate Bill 509 (SB 509), which seeks to counter transnational repression and provide stronger protections for diaspora communities. The bill advanced through the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Friday and is now set for a full Assembly vote in early September.
The legislation would define transnational repression under California law and require the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) to develop training programs for law enforcement to identify and respond to such threats. Sikh advocacy organizations argue that this is critical as diaspora communities, including U.S.-based Sikhs, have been subject to intimidation, harassment, and surveillance by foreign governments.
Strong Community Backing
Sikh groups have mounted extensive advocacy efforts in support of SB 509. The Sikh Coalition reported that more than 1,200 members of the Sikh community have already contacted their elected representatives through its online advocacy tool. Earlier in August, the organization also engaged directly with the community at Fremont Gurdwara to build awareness of the bill.
In recent weeks, the coalition partnered with other groups—including the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), Jakara Movement, the American Sikh Caucus Committee, and Hindus for Human Rights—to amplify support. Together they hosted a briefing on SB 509 and engaged elected officials at multiple levels.
Bipartisan Push Toward Governor’s Desk
Looking ahead, Sikh organizations are preparing for the bill’s likely arrival at Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. In anticipation, the Sikh Coalition worked with Amar Shergill to convene a bipartisan group of 12 California Sikhs in elected office who have already sent a joint letter of support to the governor.
A Broad Coalition of Support
The Sikh Coalition has emphasized that SB 509 has benefitted from both strong legislative champions and broad-based community backing. The organization noted that a diverse set of partners—including SALDEF, Jakara Movement, the American Sikh Caucus Committee, and Hindus for Human Rights—have played a central role in pushing the measure forward. Sikh leaders say the collective effort reflects how different communities are uniting to protect civil liberties against foreign government intimidation.
Transnational Repression and Sikh Communities in North America
Sikhs in both the United States and Canada have faced a growing threat of transnational repression in recent years. Community leaders have reported surveillance, harassment, and intimidation campaigns linked to foreign governments seeking to silence political expression and activism abroad. In the U.S., Sikh activists have spoken publicly about receiving anonymous threats, online harassment, and being monitored at public demonstrations. The danger became even more visible in Canada last year, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly alleged that Indian government agents were linked to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. That case highlighted how Sikh advocacy and self-determination movements abroad have increasingly become targets of foreign interference, raising alarm among civil rights organizations in both countries.
Defining the Threat
Transnational repression, the focus of SB 509, is the practice of foreign governments targeting diaspora communities abroad through threats, surveillance, harassment, or violence. The proposed California law seeks to strengthen protections by equipping law enforcement with the training needed to recognize and respond to such threats effectively.
