California’s highly debated Senate Bill 509 (SB509) has passed both houses of the state legislature and now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, but the measure has drawn sharp criticism from Indian-American and Hindu advocacy groups.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced), aims to create law enforcement training to identify and respond to “transnational repression” — harassment, threats, and intimidation carried out in the U.S. by foreign governments against diaspora communities. Proponents say the training will help protect vulnerable communities and ensure that law enforcement can recognise patterns of foreign interference.
“All Californians deserve to feel safe in their homes, workplaces, and neighbourhoods,” Caballero said.
“SB 509 is about justice, dignity, and ensuring that no one in California lives in fear because of who they are or where they come from.”
However, organisations including the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), and HinduPACT have voiced strong opposition, warning that the bill could unfairly target Indian-American and Hindu communities under the guise of preventing foreign interference.
“The bill lacks the guardrails necessary to prevent trainings on transnational repression from being politicised,” said Samir Kalra, managing director of HAF and civil rights attorney.
“It risks empowering law enforcement to criminally scrutinise community groups that speak out against terrorism or extremism, mischaracterising lawful advocacy as foreign interference.”
Earlier attempts to amend the bill to safeguard civil liberties were rejected, prompting concerns that peaceful advocacy and cultural expression could be labelled as transnational repression. CoHNA board member Sudha Jagannathan said,
“It is deeply troubling to see our concerns repeatedly dismissed. SB 509 could lead to profiling of Indian-Americans and Hindu organisations based on unfounded suspicions.”
The controversy comes amid a recent rise in attacks on Hindu temples in California, with at many vandalised allegedy by Khalistani extremists.
Critics argue that SB 509 prioritises abstract foreign threats over immediate protection for communities at risk from domestic extremism such as from white supremacists and Khalistani extremists.
Advocacy groups are now mobilising community awareness campaigns and urging the Governor to veto the bill, emphasising the need to protect constitutional rights, free speech, and religious freedom.
SB 509 supporters, including law enforcement leaders and immigrant rights advocates, maintain the bill is a necessary step to ensure that communities targeted by foreign governments are recognised and protected.
The Governor’s decision on whether to sign or veto the measure is expected in the coming weeks.
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