H.R. 2158: Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025, proposes several measures to establish a dedicated group within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) aimed at analyzing and addressing the threats posed by transnational repression and terrorism associated with it. The key components of this legislation include:

1. Establishment of the Transnational Repression Working Group

The bill creates a new entity, the Transnational Repression Working Group, within the DHS. The main role of this group will be to:

• Analyze and monitor threats of transnational repression and terrorism.
• Coordinate efforts with various other intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

2. Leadership and Staffing

The Director of the Transnational Repression Working Group will be appointed and will report on the group’s activities to higher authorities within the DHS. The bill mandates that the group have sufficient personnel, including at least one individual focused on ensuring compliance with privacy laws.

3. Collaboration and Information Sharing

The Working Group is directed to review and share information related to transnational repression from various sources, including Federal and local partners and the National Network of Fusion Centers.

4. Annual Assessments

The Director of the Working Group must report annually to Congress on incidents of transnational repression, including:

• Analysis of past incidents.
• Quantitative assessments of threats and identifying key individuals involved.
• Description of the Federal government’s responses to these threats.

5. Research and Development

The Secretary of DHS is tasked with researching and developing technologies and techniques to better assist local and state authorities in countering transnational repression threats within one year of the bill's enactment.

6. Constitutional and Privacy Protections

All activities conducted under this bill must comply with applicable constitutional and privacy protections and must not infringe on lawful free speech rights of individuals.

7. Duration and Termination

The Working Group is intended to operate for a period of seven years following its establishment, after which it is set to terminate unless renewed.

Definitions

The legislation provides specific definitions of key terms, such as:

• Transnational repression: Actions taken by foreign governments or their agents to coerce or intimidate individuals, including actions that occur in the U.S. or against U.S. persons.
• Agent of a foreign government: Individuals or entities acting under the direction of a foreign government.

In summary, the bill seeks to address the growing threats posed by foreign entities targeting individuals in the U.S. through the establishment of a specialized group within DHS that focuses on monitoring, analyzing, and preventing transnational repression.

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