NEWS: Sens. Schiff, Curtis Seek to Curb Rising Cases of Transnational Repression by U.S. Adversaries with Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Criminal Penalties, Centralize Oversight of[...]

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) are introducing legislation designed to curb transnational repression (TNR), threats and violence by nations against individuals outside their borders, by creating the first federal definition for the crimes and instituting enhanced criminal penalties.

The bill's introduction comes in the wake of China's new Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion law, which Chinese leaders claim is the legal basis for targeting individuals outside of its borders who contravene its new law on ethnic unity - just one example of a nation targeting its citizens across borders, raising concerns of American and other governments around the world.

Other recent cases of transnational repression have included attempts by Iran through proxies to kidnap and kill U.S.-based journalists critical of the Iranian regime.

The Stop Transnational Repression Act provides new tools to the Department of Justice; individuals convicted in connection with this new criminal definition would be subject to a sentencing enhancement of up to 10 years' imprisonment and an additional fine of up to $100,000.

This marks the first time bipartisan legislation related to transnational repression has been introduced to enhance sentencing guidelines for federal cases prosecuting TNR offenses.

"With transnational repression on the rise, it is critical that we take strong action to investigate and prosecute bad actors who would intimidate and attack dissidents and critics on U.S. soil. This is a bipartisan effort to counter a national threat that reports show is only expanding in scope, with new and brazen efforts by countries like China trying to expand its intimidation of those not in lock step with the regime. In order to safeguard fundamental rights and freedoms for everyone on U.S. soil, we need the clarity and the teeth that this bill provides, and I hope my colleagues will act quickly to pass our legislation," said Senator Schiff.

"No foreign government should be able to threaten or silence people on American soil. Whether it's the Chinese Communist Party, the Iranian regime, or any other authoritarian government, transnational repression is an attack on both our sovereignty and our freedoms. This bipartisan bill gives law enforcement stronger tools to hold perpetrators accountable and makes clear that the United States will not tolerate these abuses," said Senator Curtis.

The legislation also centralizes federal oversight of TNR prosecutions in the National Security Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and TNR criminal investigations in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The bill establishes annual reporting and briefing requirements to Congress, which would be facilitated by the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and commissions a review by relevant agencies to assess available authorities in responding to TNR. It also enables a forward-looking framework by developing whole-of-government strategies to deter against AI-enabled coercion to further TNR.

Background:

Transnational repression includes actions by officials and agents of foreign governments, or their proxies, to threaten, intimidate, coerce, surveil, stalk, silence, or plot to physically harm, kidnap, or kill American citizens or foreign nationals living in the United States.

A recent comprehensive report by the international monitoring group Freedom House counted 126 new incidents of physical transnational repression in 2025. China has 319 documented incidents of transnational repression since 2014.

Recent FBI cases that meet the TNR definition include apprehensions of agents from Iran and China, among other nations.

The Stop Transnational Repression Act of 2026 would:

• Codify a definition of transnational repression in the criminal code and include a sentencing enhancement of up to 10 years' imprisonment and an additional fine of up to $100,000 if an individual is convicted of another offense under federal law and has, as part of the conduct constituting the offense, committed an act that falls within the definition of TNR;

• Centralize oversight of TNR prosecutions to the National Security Division of DOJ and TNR criminal investigations to FBI;

• Establish an annual reporting and briefing requirement concerning acts of TNR, which would be facilitated by the Assistant Attorney General for National Security;

• Establish one-time reports that direct relevant agencies to review and assess available authorities to respond to TNR; and

• Task the development of a whole-of-government strategy related to the use of AI in furthering TNR.

Senator Schiff previously led legislation tackling transnational repression while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill was written in consultation with Freedom House and other international human rights organizations.

The full text of the bill can be viewed here.

###