On Saturday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new bill to provide immigration nonprofit workers with state protections against doxxing and targeted harassment. Republican opponents claim the so-called "Stop Nick Shirley Act" will obstruct reporters from exposing acts of governmental malfeasance.

Practically speaking, Assembly Bill 2624 will expand California’s Safe at Home program to include resources for immigration non-profit providers as well. Newsom's signature on the legislation follows months of "vitriolic attacks" levied at the law by Republicans in both California and Washington, the Chronicle reports.

They further note that the Safe at Home program has existed for decades and serves to shield the addresses of "domestic violence survivors, elder abuse victims and reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare workers." Now immigration non-profit providers will be eligible for these services as well.

Some conservative lawmakers complained that expanding the program would somehow prevent journalists from uncovering incidents of fraud, leading San Diego Assembly Member Carl DeMaio to coin the derivative "Stop Nick Shirley Act" nickname for the bill. It takes its inspiration from a right-wing YouTube personality with a penchant for making videos in which he accuses immigrant workers in blue cities of committing fraudulent acts.

The bill was first introduced by Alameda Assembly Member Mia Bonta back in February in response to a swell of threats and harassment made against Somali daycare providers in San Diego that followed Shirley's arrival to the community. Prior to focusing on San Diego, Shirley made similar videos targeting Minnesota that went very viral in some online circles.

In a statement published by the Chronicle, Bonta, a Democrat, emphasized the severity of the situation that had led to Assembly Bill 2624's necessity.

“Our immigrant service providers are living in fear because of extremists looking to demonize the work that they do and the populations they serve,” Bonta said. “That is an intolerable consequence of the anti-immigrant rhetoric that exists right now.”

The new law is scheduled to go into effect on Oct 1, 2027.

Last year, SFist reported on Newsom's decision to sign bills intended to keep local and federal law enforcement in check during immigration crackdowns.

Related: Newsom Signs Bill Allowing Immigrant Parents to Name Caretakers for Their Kids If They’re Deported