Protect the 1st Amendment—Reject the ICE Doxxing Bill

I urge you to strongly oppose the “Protecting Law Enforcement From Doxxing Act” introduced by Senator Marsha Blackburn. While protecting law enforcement from targeted harassment is a legitimate concern, this bill goes far beyond that. It threatens core First Amendment freedoms by criminalizing the public identification of federal agents—specifically ICE officers—even when such identification serves a clear public interest. The bill’s vague language—punishing anyone who identifies an agent with “intent to obstruct”—invites selective enforcement and poses a serious risk to journalists, legal observers, and everyday citizens documenting government misconduct. When agents operate masked and without badges or warrants, public accountability becomes essential—not criminal. The Supreme Court has consistently held that speech on public officials and matters of public concern is protected, even when controversial: 1. NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware (1982) upheld the right to publish names as part of protest. 2. Bartnicki v. Vopper (2001) protected the publication of sensitive, lawfully obtained information. 3. United States v. Alvarez (2012) reaffirmed that even false speech is protected unless it causes direct harm. This bill violates those principles. It seeks to shield government power from public scrutiny and could criminalize lawful protest and reporting. In a democracy, transparency must prevail over secrecy. Please defend constitutional rights and vote NO on this dangerous bill.