Congressional hearing spotlights rising global pattern of transnational repression and gaps in U.S. response

Congressman James P. McGovern, chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, opened a hearing on transnational repression by defining the problem as “when human rights violations cross borders,” and urged lawmakers to center responses on victims.

The panel of human-rights advocates, journalists and researchers described a widening array of tactics used by governments to silence critics abroad — from killings, abductions and bounties to online harassment, spyware, mutual-legal-assistance requests and the closing of bank accounts — and recommended a mix of legislation, executive action and community support to protect diaspora communities.

Freedom House researcher Grama Goroskovskaya, research director for strategy and design at Freedom House, said the organization’s database catalogs 1,219 verified incidents of transnational repression across 103 countries (2014–2024) and reported three striking patterns: the practice is geographically widespread, China is the single most prolific perpetrator, and in roughly two-thirds of incidents host-state authorities have cooperated with perpetrator states through mechanisms such as Interpol notices, extradition requests and unlawful deportation. “This really only represents the tip of the iceberg,” Goroskovskaya said, urging an official U.S. definition of transnational repression, wider law-enforcement training and multilateral cooperation.

Ludmila Lavska,…