YouTuber Nick Shirley has sparked a heated debate in California with allegations that a bill aimed at shielding immigrants and service providers from abuse is actually designed to target his investigative reporting.
The California Assembly approved the bill, known as AB 2624 or the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act,' on May 26 with a vote of 57-19. The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.
AB 2624, introduced by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, seeks to extend California's existing Safe at Home confidentiality protections to immigration support service providers, employees, and volunteers who face threats, harassment, or violence.
The bill would prohibit posting, selling, or sharing personal information or images of immigration service providers online with the intent to facilitate harassment, violence, or credible threats. It would also create new criminal offenses and impose additional responsibilities on local agencies.
Shirley, a conservative YouTuber known for investigating suspected fraud, homelessness programs, and immigration scams, claims the bill would make it harder to expose wrongdoing involving organizations serving immigrant communities.
He argues that investigations into alleged fraud could become legally risky if workers claimed they faced 'reasonable fear' or harassment, and that the bill could be used to intimidate journalists and citizen investigators.
Conservatives and critics have echoed those concerns, warning that the proposal could have a chilling effect on watchdog reporting and citizen journalism.
