FBI official warns of transnational repression targeting exiled activists and journalists in the U.S.

An official speaking for the Federal Bureau of Investigation described a pattern of "transnational repression" in which foreign governments reach into the United States to intimidate, surveil and sometimes attempt to abduct or discredit critics who have fled authoritarian regimes.

"Transnational repression is when foreign governments reach outside their borders, to silence, intimidate or even harm people that are either dissidents or members of ethnic and religious minority communities," the presenter said, and added that such actors have "become brazen enough to go after people on U.S. soil." The official said the FBI treats those incidents as matters of public safety and law enforcement.

The briefing cited three illustrative cases. The presenter described Xiong Yan, a former Tiananmen Square student leader who later sought public office in the United States, saying he was targeted by a reported campaign of surveillance and smears. "The effort to derail Yan’s candidacy was launched in September 2021," the presenter said, describing how Lin Qiming, identified in the briefing as a retired member of China’s Ministry of State Security, reportedly contracted a private investigator in New York to gather material aimed at discrediting Xiong. According to the account given at the briefing, an informant and FBI cooperation exposed the operation and prompted protective measures for Xiong and his family.

The official also described threats against Iranian-American journalist and activist Masih Alinejad, saying the FBI uncovered a plot that allegedly intended to kidnap her from her Brooklyn residence and transport her overseas. Alinejad, who the presenter described as living in exile and separated from family in Iran, was quoted describing the risks she and other activists face: "They can hang me, they can kill me. They can send killers here in New York. They can kidnap me." The briefing recounted an arrest of an armed suspect outside her home and said investigators recovered video from the suspect’s phone showing an assault-style rifle in the vehicle.

A third case centered on Wang Shujun, a New York-based scholar and activist whom the presenter said FBI investigators alleged had maintained detailed notes and reports on more than 60 targets, including dissidents in the United States and Hong Kong. The presenter described an undercover operation that used an agent to gain access to Wang’s devices and communications, after which FBI agents identified dozens of targets and secured evidence cited in a federal indictment.

The presenter stressed that victims often fear contacting authorities because of distrust of government in their countries of origin, or fear of reprisals against family members. "We want you to come forward if you're being harassed or targeted by a foreign government ... we will protect you, we will investigate," the FBI official said. The speaker noted the FBI offers multilingual support and an online Threat Intimidation Guide translated into more than 60 languages.

The briefing emphasized operational steps the FBI said it takes in these cases: moving threatened individuals to safe locations, using undercover agents and informants to disrupt operations, coordinating with state and local law enforcement, and cooperating with other U.S. agencies and international partners to "push back" against foreign actors.

The official urged anyone who believes they are being surveilled, threatened or targeted by a foreign government to contact law enforcement and use the FBI’s publicly available resources, stressing confidentiality and the agency’s commitment to investigate. The speaker closed by saying that community reports are central to disrupting transnational repression and protecting exiled activists’ freedom of speech.

The briefing did not provide detailed prosecutorial outcomes for all cases mentioned; it referred to a federal indictment in the Wang matter and to ongoing investigations in others.