1/2 US Protest Law Tracker - Updates to #Federal #Protest Laws introduced in 2025.

Latest updates: Jun. 10, 2025 (US Federal)

Providing for deportation of non-citizens who commit protest-related offenses

Would cancel the visa of any individual convicted of protest-related crimes and provide for the individual’s deportation within 60 days. Under the bill, individuals convicted of any “crime (i) related to [their] conduct at and during the course of a protest; (ii) involving the defacement, vandalism, or destruction of Federal property; or (iii) involving the intentional obstruction of any highway, road, bridge, or tunnel” would be deportable. The bill requires that such individuals’ visas be “immediately” cancelled and the individuals removed from the US within 60 days. If enacted, a non-citizen convicted of even a nonviolent misdemeanor “related to” a protest, such as trespass or disorderly conduct, could face deportation. The bill’s sponsor cited protests around immigration raids in #LosAngeles as the impetus for his bill.
(Full text of Bill: https://www.cotton.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/61025novisasforviolentcriminalsactreintro.pdf)
Status: pending
Introduced 10 Jun 2025.
Issue(s): Traffic Interference

Heightened penalties for "#riot" offenses

Would amend the federal #AntiRioting law to raise the maximum penalty to ten years in prison, instead of five, for participating in or inciting a “riot,” or aiding or abetting someone to do so. The federal definition of “riot” is broad, requiring only a “public disturbance” where one individual in a group commits violence. Under the bill, someone who committed or abetted an “act of violence” during the commission of a “riot” offense would face a minimum one-year sentence, while an individual who assaulted a law enforcement officer would face a sentence of at least one year and up to life in prison. Federal law defines “act of violence” broadly to include using force against #property—or just attempting or threatening to use such force. As such, if enacted, the bill could result in steep criminal penalties for protesters who do not actually engage in violence or destructive conduct. The bill’s sponsor cited protests around immigration raids in Los Angeles as the impetus for his bill.
Status: pending
Introduced 10 Jun 2025.
Issue(s): Riot

HR 2272: Blocking #FinancialAid to students who commit a "riot"-related offense

Would bar federal financial assistance and loan forgiveness for any student convicted of a crime in connection with a “riot.” The bar would apply to students convicted of “rioting” or “a) inciting a riot; b) organizing, promoting, encouraging, participating in, or carrying on a riot; c) committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot; or d) aiding or abetting any person in inciting or participating in or carrying on a riot or committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot.” Many states define “riot” broadly enough to cover peaceful protest activity; many also have broad laws criminalizing “incitement to riot” that cover protected expression. The bill would bar financial aid and #LoanForgiveness for students convicted under such provisions. As written, the bill would also bar financial aid and loan forgiveness to students convicted of any offense related to “#organizing, #promoting, encouraging” a riot, or “aiding and abetting” incitement or participation in a riot, which could cover an even wider range of expressive conduct, from sharing a social media post to cheering on demonstrators in a protest that was deemed a “riot.”
(Full text of bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2272)
Status: pending
Introduced 21 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): #CampusProtests, Riot, Limit on #PublicBenefits

#HR2273: Providing for visa revocation and deportation of #noncitizens who commit a "riot"-related offense

Would require the Secretary of State to revoke the visa of and make deportable a noncitizen #student, #scholar, #teacher, or #specialist convicted of a crime in connection with a “riot.” Under the bill, individuals in the US on an F-1, J-1, or M-1 visa would have their visas revoked and would be deportable if they were convicted of “rioting” or “a) inciting a riot; b) organizing, promoting, encouraging, participating in, or carrying on a riot; c) committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot; or d) aiding or abetting any person in inciting or participating in or carrying on a riot or committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot.” Many states define “riot” broadly enough to cover peaceful protest activity; many also have broad laws criminalizing “incitement to riot” that cover protected expression. The bill would provide for the deportation of foreign students, scholars, and others convicted under such provisions. As written, the bill would also provide for their deportation if convicted of any offense related to “organizing, promoting, encouraging” a riot, or “aiding and abetting” incitement or participation in a riot, which could cover an even wider range of expressive conduct, from sharing a #SocialMediaPost to cheering on #demonstrators in a protest that was deemed a “riot.”
(Full text of bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2273)
Status: pending
Introduced 21 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Riot

#S1017: New federal criminal penalties for protests near #pipelines

Would create a new federal #felony offense that could apply to protests of planned or operational pipelines. The bill would broadly criminalize under federal law “knowingly and willfully” “#vandalizing, tampering with, disrupting the operation or construction of, or preventing the operation or construction of” a gas pipeline. A range of peaceful activities could be deemed “disrupting… the construction of” a pipeline, from a rally that obstructs a road used by construction equipment, to a #lawsuit challenging a pipeline’s #permit or# zoning approval. The bill does not define “disrupt,” such that even a brief delay would seemingly be covered. Further, the underlying law provides that any "attempt" or "conspiracy" to commit the offense would be punished the same as actual commission. As such, individuals as well as organizations that engage in the planning or facilitation of a protest that is deemed to “disrupt” pipeline construction could be covered. The offense would be punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for an individual, or $500,000 for an organization.
(Full text of bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1017)
Status: pending
Introduced 13 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Protest Supporters or Funders, #Infrastructure

#ProtestLaws #protestors #protestors_in_prison #CivilLiberties #Fascism #USA #USPol #NoKings #Project2025 #TrumpIsAFascist

We Aren’t Headed Toward #Authoritarianism. We’re Here

The U.S. has a long, dark history of deploying troops to attack #protestors that dates back to the 19th century. What can we learn from it to counter #Trump’s latest attacks?

Zeb Larson Jun 11, 2025

"On Saturday evening, Donald Trump announced that he was deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops to quell anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. He did so using a rarely used law that allows the president to take control of a National Guard if there is a “a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.” This is against the wishes of Governor Gavin Newsom, who has said that the troops will only inflame tensions. Protests continued throughout Sunday night and seem likely to escalate on Monday.

"This is a calculated attempt by the Trump administration to provoke a conflict. They hope to show cities in chaos in order to justify accelerating 'deportations.' Even though deportations remain stubbornly popular, approval over their methods is slipping, and the images of ICE agents raiding restaurants, immigration hearings, and schools undercuts the narrative about deporting criminals. #StephenMiller is reportedly angry at the 'slow' pace of arresting immigrants without due process and sending them off to brutal prison camps in foreign countries to which they have no association, like El Salvador, Libya, and South Sudan, and wants to speed them up to reach a quota of 3,000 a day. But to do that, they need to demonstrate greater urgency. They likely picked California because of the state’s size and prominence, and to undercut any attempt at states bucking or resisting immigration enforcement.

"This is an incredibly worrying step in the country’s march toward authoritarianism. The fact that the police are shooting rubber bullets at reporters is equally disturbing, as it seems clear that law enforcement will side with the federal authorities. We can’t rest complacently and assume that 'it can’t happen here.' It can and it is. And U.S. history offers plenty of past examples, with state militia and federal troops having been deployed against protesters as early as the 19th century. Back then, both were used to put down labor disputes and force striking workers back to work. Major strikes such as the #StrikeOf1877, the #GreatSouthwestStrike of 1886, and the #PullmanStrike in 1894 all ended by either federal troops’ or state militias’ force.

"At the turn of the 20th century came the massacres of African Americans. In 1917, strikes and labor disputes in East St. Louis, Illinois, erupted into one of the most violent race riots in U.S. history. African Americans fought back against white attackers, and the Illinois National Guard was called in to restore peace—but they chose in most cases to join in on the attacks or at the least, just stood back and allowed them to happen. Anywhere between 40 and 150 Black people died, and thousands more were left homeless. During the #TulsaMassacre in 1921, the Oklahoma National Guard disarmed Black citizens trying to defend themselves and marched them into detention camps, even after white rioters had commandeered planes from the local airfield and dropped bombs on their homes—an unprecedented act."

Read more:
https://www.damemagazine.com/2025/06/11/we-arent-headed-toward-authoritarianism-were-here/

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