A new bill defends California from international authoritarian threats | Opinion
As a home to nearly 40 million Americans of differing backgrounds, California is a symbol of democracy and diversity. It is also, however, a target for authoritarian regimes that silence dissent and intimidate residents.
Images of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin embracing at a recent meeting in China should remind us that these leaders see California as a battleground. And they continue to extend their repressive reach into American communities.
The state’s diversity, with large Indian American, Chinese American, Sikh American and other diaspora populations, makes California vulnerable to transnational repression: physical harm or harassment, digital threats to intimidate naturalized citizens or agents impeding the rights of Americans who advocate against repressive governments. At least 55 governments worldwide employ such tactics, according to Freedom House. Among the worst offenders are Iran, China and India.
In August of 2024, Sikh activist Satinder Pal Singh Raju was shot at while driving near Woodland. He and his friends escaped unharmed, but Raju believes the attack was politically motivated. (Raju was an associate of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian advocate assassinated in Vancouver in 2023. According to The Guardian, the Canadian government has said that “credible allegations” link “agents of the Indian government” to Nijjar’s death.)
In May, a Los Angeles federal grand jury indicted Cui Guanghai, a Chinese national, and John Miller, a United Kingdom national and U.S. resident, for conspiracy to commit interstate stalking — allegedly to help silence a U.S. dissident who criticized Xi in the lead-up to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
California must strengthen its defenses against foreign interference, and legislation awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision is part of the solution.
Senate Bill 509, authored by Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Merced, will mobilize law enforcement and education resources to combat “invisible invaders.” If signed into law, the bill would enable California’s Office of Emergency Services to train officers to recognize and respond to intimidation, threats and harassment by foreign governments.
Proxies for foreign powers, especially small organizations amplifying authoritarian policies like Modi’s, tried to undermine SB 509 by falsely claiming that it’s anti-Hindu because the bill’s assembly co-sponsor is a Sikh American. They use their influence to reach the highest levels of California government. This is the type of divisive tactic authoritarian regimes excel at: turning Americans against each other while they operate in the shadows.
California’s role as America’s innovation capital attracts foreign intelligence agencies, underscoring the importance of the training that SB 509 will provide. Studies show that the world’s three most powerful intelligence agencies (based on size, funding and influence) are the Chinese Ministry of State Security, Russia’s Federal Security Service and India’s Research and Analysis Wing.
The threat of violence will be on display this fall in New York when Indian national Nikhil Gupta, allegedly tied to Modi’s inner circle, faces trial for allegedly hiring an undercover federal agent to assassinate Sikh American leaders.
The Golden State has always been where the future begins. Modi, Putin and Xi may target California, but they underestimate our resolve. The time for action is now.
Newsom must sign SB 509 to affirm California’s role in defending American values against authoritarian threats.
Harjot Singh Khalsa, based in San Jose, is the founder of Punjabi Radio USA, which broadcasts across networks in California.
This story was originally published September 26, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "A new bill defends California from international authoritarian threats | Opinion."