Congress seeks to stop foreign leaders trying to silence people in US

[RAY BOGAN]

In America, criticizing the government is a first amendment privilege some people exercise for a living. 

[Joy Behar]

It’s Trump and the Republicans who are holding up a border deal.” 

[RAY BOGAN]

In countries like Russia, China, and Turkey where oppressive regimes reign, criticizing the government can get you jailed or killed. 

But sometimes those foreign governments send their enforcers into the United States, hoping to silence their citizens living here and even Americans. 

It’s called transnational repression and it happened to former NBA first round pick Enes Kanter Freedom after he criticized the Turkish government. 

[Enes Kanter Freedom]

“Then I began to call out human rights violations by President Erdogan in my home country. The Turkish government asked the US government to extradite me, canceled my passport, put my name on Interpol list, imprisoned my father, and set a $500,000 bounty on my head.”

[Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I.]

“unfortunately, in some countries around the world, Freedom of expression, civil rights, civil liberties are backsliding and we need to make sure that here in the United States, we do what we can to protect people.”  

[RAY BOGAN]

The FBI defines transnational repression as when foreign governments stalk, intimidate, or assault people in the United States. It’s a violation of US law. 

China once opened up a secret police station in New York for that specific purpose. 

To emphasize how aggressive these governments can be, this is what Turkey did to the 6 foot 5, 250 pound NBA center. 

[Enes Kanter Freedom]

“In 9 years, I received 12 arrest warrants and countless death threats. They tried to attack me in front of a mosque in Boston. They run social media campaigns against me so their fanatics could harass me or attack me when they see me. They pressured American universities, NGOs and political groups to cancel their events with me.”

[RAY BOGAN]

Transnational repression can take the form of: hacking, assaults, attempted kidnapping, forced or coerced return to the country of origin, threats to detain family in home countries, and freezing financial assets. 

The typical targets are human rights activists, dissidents, political opponents, religious or ethnic minority groups and journalists. 

The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence has three bipartisan bills to address this. 

[Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas]

 “The heart of the issue, again, lies at them thinking that they can threaten people, Americans, on American soil, this is a step in identifying and allowing these victims at least an outlet to feel protected, safe and secure.” 

[RAY BOGAN]

If signed into law, the legislation would create a dedicated office within the Department of Homeland Security to analyze, monitor and prevent transnational repression, establish a hotline, conduct a public service announcement campaign, and develop a training program for state and local officials. 

[Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I.]

“We know that there are hundreds, if not 1000s, of others, who are being targeted, being threatened, but don’t know where to go. We also know that this is happening under the noses of state and local law enforcement who just don’t have the training to identify what’s going on and know what to do about it.”

[RAY BOGAN]

The bills still need to be approved in both chambers of Congress and signed by the President, but the sponsors hope their bipartisanship will help get that done. Straight from DC, I’m Ray Bogan.