Independent journalist Nick Shirley is suing California over AB 2624, which Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” arguing that it violates the First Amendment by restricting the publication of certain information and images involving immigration support services workers.
America First Legal filed the federal lawsuit Friday on Shirley’s behalf against California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber.
AB 2624 expands California’s address-confidentiality protections to qualifying immigration support services workers who face threats or harassment because of their work. The law also restricts publishing their personal information or images with the specific intent to incite imminent great bodily harm or make a qualifying threat. Qualifying workers must apply to participate in the state’s confidentiality program.
In the video, Shirley tells viewers, “I’m officially suing the state of California.” He says Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2624 on August 22 and argues that it “will prohibit what an individual or a journalist will be able to film and publish when it comes to immigration support service providers.”
Shirley also points to a provision allowing protected participants to issue a written demand that their personal information or image not be published. However, a written demand does not automatically require removal of every video; the law’s restrictions still include the specified intent requirement.
“If you do publish the video, you may receive a $4,000 fine,” Shirley says. The statute provides for civil damages of at least $4,000 for certain violations, rather than an automatic government fine for posting a video. Shirley argues the restrictions violate the First Amendment, while Assemblymember Mia Bonta, who authored the legislation, has said the law targets doxxing, threats, and harassment rather than legitimate journalism.
A follow-up post said the case “may take months or years,” and that “the people deserve the right to post whenever they want, especially when it’s our tax dollars paying for it.” The law is scheduled to become operative on October 1, 2027.
Shirley Lawsuit Ignites First Amendment Debate
Many commenters backed Shirley. Elon Musk replied, “Bravo!” Others wrote, “They passed a law to shut a journalist up,” while another asked, “If there’s nothing to hide, why pass the law?”
A smaller group challenged him. One asked, “So you think you have a First Amendment right to dox immigration support service providers?”
AB 2624 does not become operative until October 2027, but Shirley and his attorneys argue it is already chilling his reporting. Supporters of the law say it targets threats and doxxing, not legitimate journalism. The federal court will now have to decide whether those protections go too far when they collide with the First Amendment.
