FBI Dallas warns of "transnational repression," urges victims to report

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Holly Kelley of FBI Dallas opened a public briefing by warning that U.S. residents with ties to foreign countries can be targeted by "transnational repression," a campaign of spying, harassment and intimidation carried out by foreign nations or their agents.

Kelley said, "It's called transnational repression." She defined the terms precisely: "Transnational repression is when a foreign nation or someone working for that nation spies on, harasses, stalks, or intimidates someone in the United States who's either from that country or has connections to that country." The briefing framed the issue as a rising but underrecognized public-safety and civil-rights concern in North Texas.

Kelley told attendees that in its worst forms transnational repression "can involve kidnapping, assault, or even murder," and that the purpose is often to silence critics, punish dissidents or coerce victims to return to their home country or provide information about others. She listed common targets as "exiles, dissidents, political or human rights activists, journalists, political opponents, or members of minority communities," and said friends and family of those targets are frequently harassed or detained as well.

The agent described tactics used by perpetrators, including attempts to conceal intent by falsely claiming a target owes a fine or has a foreign warrant, and the hiring of private investigators in the U.S. "In other instances, the foreign nation hires unsuspecting American private investigators to locate and gather information about the intended victim," Kelley said.

Kelley said the FBI believes many incidents go unreported and that the bureau is "working to root out those who threaten the free and fair expression of those living in the United States." She closed by urging victims or those with information to report incidents to the FBI online or by phone: "You can report it online at tips.fbi.gov or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI."

The briefing did not announce any specific investigations or charges; it was presented as an awareness and reporting effort by FBI Dallas. The bureau's guidance and contact options are the next practical steps for anyone who believes they or someone they know is being targeted.