Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025 (H.R.2158)

(Pending in the House)

The Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025 (H.R. 2148) was introduced in the House on March 14, 2025 by Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), with original co-sponsors Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Gabe Evans (R-CO), Andrew Ogles (R-TN), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Michael Guest (R-MS), and Laurel Lee (R-FL). 

This bill creates a working group within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to monitor, analyze, and counter transnational repression—foreign government actions that target people in the United States or abroad in order to intimidate, silence, or harm them.

The full title is: “To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize a dedicated transnational repression working group within the Department of Homeland Security to analyze and monitor transnational repression and terrorism threats related to transnational repression, and for other purposes.”

BACKGROUND: Congressman Pfluger explained the urgency of the bill in a March 2025 press release, saying, “As our adversaries continue to grow increasingly aggressive, conducting transnational repression against dissidents or journalists within the United States, we must address these threats and protect those who speak out against tyranny and human rights abuses abroad. The hostile acts we are seeing across the country are a direct challenge to our nation’s sovereignty and infringe upon Americans’ civil liberties.”

The bill finds that:

  • Transnational repression threats are real and growing in the United States.
  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must take action to counter transnational repression in the United States.

This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to:

  • Create a Transnational Repression Working Group to track and assess transnational repression cases.
  • Support information sharing among federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities.
  • Submit annual reports of transnational repression to Congress.
  • Research, develop, and test new ways to support local law enforcement to counter transnational repression.

Read more:

UHRP Report: Repression Across Borders: The CCP’s Illegal Harassment and Coercion of Uyghur Americans 

UHRP Report: Uyghurs Surveilled and Harassed in 22 Democratic Countries, Research Reveals

UHRP Report: China Perpetrating Transnational Repression of Uyghurs on Massive Scale

Visit the UHRP U.S. Legislation Tracker for other bills endorsed by the Uyghur Human Rights Project.