Gov. Gavin Newsom recently vetoed what would have been landmark legislation aimed at protecting Californians from transnational repression, when foreign governments target diaspora communities and expatriates living in other countries.

Newsom’s decision is a missed opportunity to help Californians feel safer, especially the state’s sizable South Asian community, which for years has faced intimidation and violenceorchestrated by India’s Hindu nationalist government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The FBI defines transnational repression as when foreign governments “reach beyond their borders to … harm members of their diaspora and exile communities in the United States.” It can include stalking, harassment, abusive legal practices, online disinformation campaigns, assault and even assassinations.

A quarter of the world’s governments use repressive tactics to silence critics living outside their borders, according to the human rights group Freedom House. While countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and China are notable culprits, India is becoming notorious as one of the only democracies engaging in acts of aggression against Indian expats.