Full Breakdown
Nick Shirley Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging California’s “Stop Nick Shirley Act”
9/5/2026, 12:27:16 AM
The Lawsuit Targets California’s Immigration-Support Privacy Law
Conservative commentator and YouTuber Nicholas “Nick” Shirley filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California alleging that Assembly Bill 2624 (AB 2624), dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” violates the First, Fourteenth and Ex Post Facto Amendments. The suit argues that the law’s prohibition on publishing “personal information” of individuals who provide “designated immigration support services” creates a chilling, content-based restriction on speech and exposes Shirley to civil liability for material he has already released.
Background & Context
AB 2624 was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in August 2026 after Assemblywoman Mia Bonta introduced the measure in February. The statute protects nonprofit groups, legal firms, health-care providers and other entities that assist immigrants from having their phone numbers, addresses, employment history or financial data posted online. It also permits those protected parties to sue for damages if the information is disclosed. Shirley’s investigative videos—most notably a 2025 exposé of alleged welfare fraud in Minnesota daycare centers—have drawn criticism from California officials, who label his reporting “reckless” and “false.”
Key Figures & Groups
- Nick Shirley – 24-year-old YouTuber and investigative journalist who claims the law bars him from publishing truthful, lawfully obtained information.
- America First Legal Foundation – Litigation firm founded by former White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller; represents Shirley.
- Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) – Signed AB 2624 into law.
- Attorney General Rob Bonta (D-CA) – Opposes Shirley’s claims; his office issued a statement defending the law.
- Assemblywoman Mia Bonta (D-CA) – Introduced the bill; her husband is the state attorney general.
- JW Howard Attorneys LTD – Co-counsel on the lawsuit.
Timeline
- February 2026 – Assemblywoman Mia Bonta introduces AB 2624.
- Attorney General Rob Bonta publicly denounces Shirley’s videos on California fraud.
- August 2026 – Governor Newsom signs AB 2624; the law is slated to take effect in October 2027.
- August 26, 2026 – Shirley protests the signing of the bill alongside State Senator Tony Strickland and activist Michael Gates.
- Shirley’s lawsuit is filed in federal court, seeking declaratory relief and an injunction.
Official Statements & Responses
- America First Legal argues the statute constitutes viewpoint discrimination because it shields pro-immigration groups while leaving critical voices unprotected.
Verbatim Quotes
- “California was so threatened by that work that the Attorney General’s own wife introduced a bill to silence Mr. Shirley, in violation of the First Amendment,” — Gene Hamilton, president of America First Legal
What’s Next
AB 2624 will become operative in October 2027. Shirley’s case seeks a federal injunction to prevent enforcement of the law before that date. No court date has been set, and the outcome will determine whether California’s privacy shield can be applied to immigration-service providers without infringing on First-Amendment rights.
