California Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio warned that a bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom this week could cripple efforts to expose alleged misuse of taxpayer funds by organizations that receive public money to assist immigrants. The legislation, officially titled “Privacy for immigration support services providers,” creates privacy protections for those providers, their employees and volunteers, including shielding their home addresses and imposing penalties for publishing their images on social media.
What the law does
DeMaio described the measure as the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” saying it effectively makes it illegal for a citizen journalist to document suspected fraud involving public dollars and share that evidence online. He argued the law criminalizes investigative journalism and shields taxpayer‑funded NGOs from public scrutiny.
Legal challenge in the works
According to DeMaio, a coalition of civil‑liberty advocates is drafting a lawsuit that will argue the statute violates the First Amendment. “We have a plaintiff and are putting together the legal briefs,” he told Fox News Digital. “It is only a matter of time before we appear before a judge to stop this act.” He added that the group hopes the U.S. Department of Justice will intervene, describing the law as an “open‑and‑shut infringement on our First Amendment rights.”
Allegations of fraud and political bias
DeMaio claimed the new law is part of a broader pattern of fraud in California, comparing it unfavorably to recent scandals in Minnesota. He said several California NGOs that receive taxpayer money claim to provide services to immigrants, yet “organize rallies, harvest ballots, endorse candidates and ballot measures, and act as an extension of the Democratic Party.” He suggested the legislation protects these groups from accountability.
Response from the Newsom administration
Newsom spokesperson Diana Crofts‑Pelayo dismissed the criticism, stating the law has nothing to do with Nick Shirley’s journalism and accusing “MAGA Republicans” of fabricating conspiracy theories. She said the measure does not hide fraud and does not affect Shirley’s reporting, which the governor’s office has previously labeled as “grifting” and “lying.”
Potential federal involvement
DeMaio said he has reached out to the Justice Department’s Office for Civil Rights to request a review of the law’s constitutionality. “We have been dialoguing with the Department of Justice, and now we have a game plan as to how we will proceed forward in the courts to overturn this unconstitutional law,” he said.
Implications for California’s immigrant‑service sector
If upheld, the law could limit the ability of journalists, watchdog groups, and ordinary Californians to document and report on how public funds are used by immigration‑related nonprofits. Supporters argue the privacy protections are needed to keep volunteers safe from harassment, while opponents contend the measure shields potential wrongdoing from public view.
The bill is set to take effect on Oct. 1, and the legal battle is expected to unfold over the coming months.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
