California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a senate bill mandating law enforcement training on “transnational repression,” after Indian American and civil rights groups warned it could foster bias and duplicate existing federal frameworks.
Community leaders across the state hailed Newsom’s move. SB 509 by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) passed without opposition in both chambers, sought to train local police on detecting and combating “transnational repression,” acts of intimidation by foreign governments against U.S. residents.
“While I appreciate the author’s intent to enhance the state’s ability to identify and respond to transnational repression, this issue is best addressed through administrative action in coordination with federal agencies,” Newsom said in his veto message.
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By codifying definitions related to this training, this bill would remove the state’s flexibility and ability to avoid future inconsistencies related to this work, especially since no unified federal definition exists, he wrote.
California Office of Emergency Services, Newsom noted has already developed a training to help law enforcement recognize and respond to transnational repression.
“My administration moved quickly to provide local agencies with the necessary tools to protect these impacted communities while maintaining the essential administrative flexibility to adapt to this evolving issue,” he wrote.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) called Newsom’s veto “a victory for the civil rights of all Californians.”
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“This veto is a victory for the civil rights of all Californians. We are grateful that Governor Newsom saw the lack of necessity for SB 509 and listened to the civil rights concerns this bill posed to millions of Californians, from a variety of backgrounds,” HAF Managing Director Samir Kalra stated.
“This bill had vague language which threatened to institutionalize bias against Hindus, Indian Americans, and other ethnic minorities,” he suggested.
“What’s more, SB 509 would have cost California taxpayers millions of dollars, at a time when the state government desperately needs to address other pressing issues.”
Without necessary protections, SB 509 “would have effectively silenced Hindus from speaking out against Khalistani extremism and separatism, as well exposed Hindu Americans to accusations of supporting foreign governments,” Kalra stated.