FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, August 29, 2025
Contact: media@saldef.org
SALDEF Applauds Assembly Appropriations Committee Passage of SB 509, a Landmark Bill to Combat Transnational Repression in California
Sacramento, CA — SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund) applauds the California Assembly Appropriations Committee for advancing SB 509, a groundbreaking bill that confronts the growing threat of transnational repression.
SB 509 requires California law enforcement agencies to receive training to recognize and respond to cases where foreign governments target, surveil, or intimidate individuals on American soil including Sikh Americans, Chinese democracy advocates, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Iranian dissidents, and other immigrant communities.
The passage of SB 509 through the Appropriations Committee follows compelling testimony from SALDEF and Sikh community members, whose voices underscored the urgent need for this legislation. Their advocacy demonstrates the power of civic engagement and the real impact communities can make when they speak out.
“The Appropriations Committee’s passage of SB 509 is a powerful acknowledgment that Californians deserve safety from harassment and intimidation, regardless of where it originates,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF. “For too long, diaspora communities — including Sikhs — have lived under the shadow of foreign repression. This bill ensures our law enforcement agencies are trained to meet the threat with seriousness, accountability, and urgency.”
Transnational repression is a growing tactic used by authoritarian regimes to silence critics abroad, often through threats, surveillance, and intimidation. California — home to some of the nation’s largest immigrant communities — has become a critical front in ensuring these threats do not undermine safety, democracy, or free expression.
Authored by Senator Anna Caballero (D-14), SB 509 now heads to the Assembly floor for a final vote.
“SB 509 is not just a bill for one community — it is protection for all communities who have chosen California as their home,” said Gill. “SALDEF urges continued support for this legislation as it moves to the Assembly floor. Together, we can ensure that California takes a historic step toward protecting vulnerable communities and strengthening democracy.”
About SALDEF
Founded in 1996, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) is the oldest Sikh American civil rights organization. SALDEF’s mission is to protect the civil rights of Sikh Americans and ensure a national voice for our community through advocacy, education, and leadership development.