1) Codify a definition of transnational repression in law and ensure the United States has the necessary legal authorities to sufficiently address the threat and support those who are targeted. At present, US law does not include a definition of transnational repression, something that is needed to allow officials to understand what transnational repression is, to identify and apprehend perpetrators, and to direct their agencies on reporting, training, and sufficient outreach to and support for victims and potential targets. Current legislative proposals include the Transnational Repression Policy Act (H.R.3654/S.831), which would direct the creation of a strategy to address transnational repression, require training for certain officials, and impose sanctions on perpetrators, and the Stop Transnational Repression Act (H.R.5907), which would provide criminal penalties for transnational repression. Though the subject matter of these bills extends beyond the jurisdiction of this subcommittee, we urge members to consider cosponsoring. 2) Work with the Executive Branch and with State and local officials to ensure that personnel coming in contact with perpetrators and victims of transnational repression receive the training necessary to recognize and respond to the threat and assist victims. Several agencies and bureaus are providing training for employees. But, trainings are not yet routinized or mandated for all officials or employees who may come in contact with perpetrators or victims. There is no standardized curriculum shared across agencies and often not even a standardized set of trainings for each relevant employee within an agency. Definitions, content, and recommended actions vary. It is important that US agencies establish clear training materials and ensure regular training throughout the career of personnel who may come in contact with perpetrators or victims. Establishing a training module for those who go through FLETC is one potential way to provide standardized trainings for a large number of relevant officials. Whenever possible, federal agencies should also provide training to state and local officials they may partner with on transnational repression issues. FLETC offers training for state, local, campus, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies and could potentially incorporate transnational repression into those trainings. The Homeland Security Investigations-led Border Security Enforcement Taskforce (BEST) is another example of federal and local officials working together to address transnational threats. It is critically important those involved with the taskforce receive training to understand the threat of transnational repression and the profile of perpetrators and victims, so they can apprehend perpetrators and ensure they are not undertaking enforcement actions that will lead to the deportation of individuals who are under threat from and being targeted by their home countries. 3) Review current information-sharing practices to ensure efficient communication within and between agencies and with trusted partners and allies. It appears that among personnel tasked with tracking and responding to transnational repression there is a tremendous amount of ongoing communication across the federal government, but challenges remain. Because the cross-cutting nature of transnational repression transcends the jurisdictions of both domestically- and internationally-focused agencies and because law enforcement and those in the Annie Wilcox Boyajian Freedom House January 17, 2023 5