California Lawsuit Filed
Content Creator Nick Shirley Sues California Over New Immigration Transparency Law
Anonymous
Key Points
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Assembly Bill 2624 is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2027.
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The law was introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Mia Bonta of Oakland, who is married to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, one of the officials named as a defendant in Shirley’s lawsuit. The bill’s formal name is the “Safe at Work Act.”
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Shirley says the law was part of a sequence of events that began after he announced on Jan. 31 that he was investigating alleged fraud in California. He points to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s subsequent statement that San Diego’s Somali community felt “under siege,” Attorney General Rob Bonta’s Feb. 5 dismissal of fraud allegations as “reckless, false, outrageous, and ridiculous,” and Mia Bonta’s Feb. 20 introduction of AB 2624.
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Republican state Sen. Tony Strickland defended Shirley’s investigations, saying, “I think we need more people looking at how we’re spending our money and more transparency and accountability.”
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America First Legal, which filed the case with attorney John W. Howard, was founded in 2018 by Gene Hamilton, President Donald Trump’s former deputy White House counsel, and Stephen Miller, Trump’s current deputy chief of staff for policy.
Right-wing content creator Nick Shirley is suing California over Assembly Bill 2624, a law that shields the identities of immigration-support workers from public records. iHeart reports that Shirley and his legal team at America First Legal claim the measure violates his First Amendment right to investigate and report on government spending. The law is set to take effect on October 1, 2027.
Shirley alleges the law was created specifically to stop his investigations into fraud at government-funded immigrant-run daycares and hospices. Courthouse News reports that Democratic Assemblymember Mia Bonta introduced the bill on February 20, days after her husband, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, dismissed Shirley's fraud claims as "reckless, false, outrageous, and ridiculous."
What Assembly Bill 2624 Actually Does
The law expands California's Safe at Home program to include immigration-support service providers. It lets eligible workers hide their names and addresses from public records. The bill also blocks the publication of identifying information after a written request is made. Courthouse News explains that supporters say these protections shield workers from doxxing and harassment campaigns.
Shirley's Timeline of Events and Allegations
Shirley traces the law's origins to January 31, when he announced his fraud investigations in California. Within weeks, Governor Gavin Newsom said San Diego's Somali community felt "under siege." Attorney General Rob Bonta then called Shirley's claims false. Finally, on February 20, Assemblymember Mia Bonta—Rob Bonta's wife—introduced AB 2624. Shirley says this sequence proves the law targets him, not general harassment concerns.
The lawsuit names Rob Bonta, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, and other California officials as defendants. It seeks to block enforcement of the law. iHeart notes that America First Legal, founded by Trump allies Gene Hamilton and Stephen Miller, filed the case on Shirley's behalf.
First Amendment Challenge Over Content Restrictions
Shirley's legal team argues AB 2624 is unconstitutional because it restricts investigative reporting based on viewpoint. They claim it violates the First and 14th Amendments by targeting his speech specifically. Courthouse News reports the lawsuit contends the law is a content-based restriction designed to punish journalists who criticize government-funded programs.
Republican state Senator Tony Strickland defended Shirley's right to investigate. He told reporters, "I think we need more people looking at how we're spending our money and more transparency and accountability." Strickland's comment signals that some state lawmakers support scrutiny of government spending, even when it makes agencies uncomfortable.
The Clash Between Privacy Protections and Accountability
The case highlights a tension in modern politics: balancing worker safety from harassment with public accountability. AB 2624 supporters argue that publishing names and addresses puts service providers at physical risk. Shirley's team argues that hiding information prevents accountability for fraud or misuse of taxpayer dollars. No court has yet ruled on whether the law is constitutional.
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