Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) ordered law enforcement officials in his state to target and arrest criminals who were carrying out influence operations at the behest of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or the Chinese government.

Abbott issued the executive order to protect Texans from coordinated harassment and coercion campaigns from China that are aimed at Chinese dissidents and seek to force them to return to China.

“The Chinese Communist Party has engaged in a worldwide harassment campaign against Chinese dissidents in attempts to forcibly return them to China,” he said. “Texas will not tolerate the harassment or coercion of the more than 250,000 individuals of Chinese descent who legally call Texas home by the Chinese Communist Party or its heinous proxies.”

“Ensuring the safety, welfare, and well-being of Texans is a top priority,” he continued. “I directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to identify and bring criminal charges against individuals who harass Texans on behalf of this hostile foreign adversary. We will continue to do everything we can to protect Texans from the unlawful and repressive actions of the Chinese Communist Party.”

Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Safety to work with federal law enforcement to identify and charge individuals working for foreign governments who are suspected of being involved in crimes targeting dissidents.

The order also initiates the creation of policy recommendations from officials on how to counter threats posed by foreign harassment campaigns.

Abbott also ordered the creation of a new hotline to report suspected acts of repression or coercion by foreign actors.

Ensuring the safety, welfare, & well-being of Texans is a top priority.

Issued an Executive Order today to target the Chinese Communist Party’s harassment of Texans.

I directed DPS to identify & bring criminal charges against individuals who harass Texans on behalf of the CCP. pic.twitter.com/A7uq7eVYk1

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 18, 2024