America First Legal filed a federal lawsuit on Friday on behalf of investigative journalist Nick Shirley. The lawsuit names California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) and Secretary of State Shirley Weber (D) in their official capacities and seeks to block enforcement of Assembly Bill 2624, unofficially known as the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act.'

The measure was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) on August 22 and seeks to expand confidentiality protections to employees of designated immigration support services providers. The bill's sponsor, Assembly member Mia Bonta (D), is the wife of Attorney General Rob Bonta. She contends that the legislation is only intended to protect immigration service workers because of "anti-immigrant rhetoric" and called any claim that she was targeting journalist a "far-right misinformation campaign."

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, alleges that the new law violates the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution. It claims the statute unlawfully singles out individuals who investigate immigration-related organizations for potential fraud or waste of taxpayer funds.

Shirley gained national attention for his 2025 investigative reporting on fraud at Somali-run daycare centers in Minnesota, which resulted in federal investigations, multiple convictions, Shirley testifying before Congress, and deeper scrutiny of programs in other states. The owner of the Future Leaders Early Learning center, one prominent Minnesota daycare reported on by Shirley during his investigation, was later charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States through Minnesota's Child Care Assistance Program. In July of 2026, another daycare owner featured in Shirley's reporting pleaded guilty to $4.6 million in daycare fraud and $850,000 in the Feeding our Future scam.

Bonta's legislation, which would take effect October of next year, creates a civil remedy allowing protected individuals to seek damages of at least $4,000 for the online publication of their identifying information with intent to cause harm or fear.

Critics include Republican lawmakers and conservative influencers that argue the law would chill legitimate investigative journalism and public scrutiny of government-funded programs. The lawsuit contends the measure already harms Shirley's ability to conduct and publish his reporting despite its delayed implementation.

The filing follows weeks of debate after Gov. Newsom signed the bill amid rallies and statements from Shirley and California Republicans opposing what they say is an effort to shield providers from accountability. America First Legal, a conservative legal organization, partnered with attorney John W. Howard on the case. Shirley announced the suit on X.

"It has just begun, this may take months or years but it must be done," Shirley wrote in a follow up post. "The people deserve the right to post whenever they want especially when it’s our tax dollars paying for it."