CALIFORNIA — The California Assembly advanced Assembly Bill 2624, titled 'Privacy for Immigration Support Services Providers,' which was sent to the state Senate on Wednesday. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, would create privacy and address-confidentiality protections for immigration service providers who face documented threats or harassment because of their work.
Independent journalist Nick Shirley criticized the legislation during an appearance on 'Fox News @ Night' with Trace Gallagher on Wednesday night, arguing it would shield taxpayer-funded organizations from journalistic scrutiny and fraud investigations. "What’s interesting about this, this bill is it’s protecting NGOs and nonprofits. These are organizations and groups that receive our tax dollars, yet they want to make it so we can’t find out what they’re doing with our tax dollars," Shirley said.
Shirley contended that the proposal could expose investigators to civil penalties, including injunctions, attorney fees, and statutory damages, if covered organizations claim a reasonable fear for their safety. In an X post, he claimed the bill would place journalists at civil risk for investigating fraud involving immigration support services, nonprofits, and health care facilities. He rejected the notion that his reporting constitutes harassment and argued the measure would discourage investigations into organizations receiving public funds.
Shirley referenced alleged fraud cases involving Minnesota nonprofits and California hospice operators. "The Somalis in Minnesota, they stole hundreds of millions, billions of dollars, and then the hospice fraud that took place inside California. Everyone was saying that was bogus. And then her husband actually tried to take credit for exposing the hospice fraud after I had went and exposed the hospice fraud," Shirley said, referring to Assemblymember Mia Bonta’s husband, California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Bonta, the bill’s author, said immigrant service providers have faced harassment, doxxing campaigns, and threats. Shirley responded to the legislative push by saying, "I obviously hit a nerve."