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Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 16, 2023
Transnational Repression Policy Act
This bill seeks to reduce transnational repression (the actions of foreign governments to intimidate, silence, or harm members of diaspora and exile communities to prevent them from exercising their human rights).
This bill requires the President to impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on certain foreign persons (individuals and entities) that directly engage in transnational repression.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
This bill also requires the Department of State to develop a strategy to promote initiatives that (1) enhance international awareness of transnational repression; (2) address transnational repression, including by raising the costs of perpetrating repressive activities and by protecting targeted individuals and groups; and (3) conduct outreach to those targeted by foreign governments.
Additionally, the State Department and the Department of Justice must provide training to certain individuals (e.g., relevant federal employees and law enforcement partners) on specified aspects of transnational repression.
The bill also directs the intelligence community to prioritize, to the extent feasible, the identification of those perpetrating transnational repression against communities in the United States.
People & committees
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] · D–OR
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Jan 9, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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