Labor Groups Sue Trump Admin Over Social Media Surveillance of Non-Citizens
A coalition of labor unions has taken a stand against the Trump administration's social media surveillance program, which it claims is an assault on free speech rights for visa holders and other immigrants who are in the country legally. The lawsuit, filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation on behalf of the American Federation of Teachers, the Communications Workers of America, and the United Auto Workers, seeks to block the administration's viewpoint-based investigation and surveillance efforts.
The suit alleges that union members' speech is being "chilled" by the threat of adverse immigration action if the government disapproves of their expressions or future expressions. The unions claim that this has resulted in limited union-facing activity due to fear of retributive immigration consequences. The Trump administration's social media surveillance program, which involves scouring platforms for posts it can use to deport visa holders, is seen as a threat to free speech and an overreach of executive power.
The administration's claims that the Supreme Court has granted it immunity from liability under the Immigration and Nationality Act are disputed by the unions. The real issue at play here is not national security but rather a deliberate attempt to silence critics of the administration's policies, including those critical of Israel's government.
Critics have long warned about this kind of surveillance as an attack on free speech. The recent revocation of six visas over social media posts critical of slain MAGA activist Charlie Kirk suggests that the administration is willing to use this program to target anyone whose views it disagrees with.
The Trump administration plans to establish two round-the-clock centers to monitor social media activity, further expanding its reach and capacity for surveillance. While the administration has claimed that its actions are necessary to combat terrorism, critics argue that they amount to a broader assault on free speech rights.
Republicans have largely remained silent on this issue, despite promoting conspiracy theories about the Biden administration's alleged pressure on social media companies to censor users. However, it is now clear that the Trump administration's own actions will not be ignored or swept under the rug.
As one State Department spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, claimed in an email, "The Supreme Court has repeatedly made clear that aliens do not have the same First Amendment rights as American citizens." This statement is at odds with the real law, which recognizes free speech rights for all individuals, regardless of immigration status. The Trump administration's actions demonstrate a willingness to disregard this principle and silence its critics through any means necessary.
A coalition of labor unions has taken a stand against the Trump administration's social media surveillance program, which it claims is an assault on free speech rights for visa holders and other immigrants who are in the country legally. The lawsuit, filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation on behalf of the American Federation of Teachers, the Communications Workers of America, and the United Auto Workers, seeks to block the administration's viewpoint-based investigation and surveillance efforts.
The suit alleges that union members' speech is being "chilled" by the threat of adverse immigration action if the government disapproves of their expressions or future expressions. The unions claim that this has resulted in limited union-facing activity due to fear of retributive immigration consequences. The Trump administration's social media surveillance program, which involves scouring platforms for posts it can use to deport visa holders, is seen as a threat to free speech and an overreach of executive power.
The administration's claims that the Supreme Court has granted it immunity from liability under the Immigration and Nationality Act are disputed by the unions. The real issue at play here is not national security but rather a deliberate attempt to silence critics of the administration's policies, including those critical of Israel's government.
Critics have long warned about this kind of surveillance as an attack on free speech. The recent revocation of six visas over social media posts critical of slain MAGA activist Charlie Kirk suggests that the administration is willing to use this program to target anyone whose views it disagrees with.
The Trump administration plans to establish two round-the-clock centers to monitor social media activity, further expanding its reach and capacity for surveillance. While the administration has claimed that its actions are necessary to combat terrorism, critics argue that they amount to a broader assault on free speech rights.
Republicans have largely remained silent on this issue, despite promoting conspiracy theories about the Biden administration's alleged pressure on social media companies to censor users. However, it is now clear that the Trump administration's own actions will not be ignored or swept under the rug.
As one State Department spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, claimed in an email, "The Supreme Court has repeatedly made clear that aliens do not have the same First Amendment rights as American citizens." This statement is at odds with the real law, which recognizes free speech rights for all individuals, regardless of immigration status. The Trump administration's actions demonstrate a willingness to disregard this principle and silence its critics through any means necessary.
its like they think theyre above the law, which btw is not true. i mean, who makes a rule that aliens cant free speak on social media? sounds like a made up excuse to me 
and what really gets my goat is they're trying to silence ppl who are just speaking out against injustices...like israel or whatever 
. I mean, who does the gov think they are? Monitoring everyone's social media activity 24/7? That's just a recipe for abuse of power 
. And don't even get me started on the visa holders - it's like, hello, you're already in the country, what more do they need to know about your views 
, but come on, folks, we should be demanding answers 
. The fact that they're claiming immunity from liability just makes it worse 
.
. This whole program smells like a ploy to shut down dissenting voices 
. The gov needs to stop playing it coy and get real about what they're doing 
You gotta wonder why Republicans are MIA on this one 
. It's like they're trying to avoid getting caught up in their own dirty laundry 
. But let's get real, this whole social media surveillance thing is just another example of the erosion of civil liberties under Trump 
. I mean, what's next? Monitoring citizens' online activity for "national security" reasons? It's a slippery slope and we need to keep our politicians in check 
. The fact that they're trying to use the Supreme Court as a shield to avoid accountability is just another sign of their willingness to disregard the law 
. It's time for our leaders to get their priorities straight and focus on protecting the rights of all Americans, not just those with a certain party affiliation 
.
the trump admin is literally trying to silence ppl with visas by monitoring their social media! 
it's like they think they can control what we say and do online just because we're not citizens... newsflash: free speech is for EVERYONE, regardless of immigration status! 
i'm so proud of these labor unions who are fighting back against this overreach. we need more ppl speaking out against this kind of surveillance state nonsense. let's keep spreading the word and holding our leaders accountable! 
gotta stand up 2 them or else we'll lose our rights 4eva 
the fact that they're setting up these round-the-clock centers to monitor social media activity is super scary and invasive, like what's next? 
anyway, i'm not surprised republicans aren't speaking out on this, because let's face it, they're all about protecting trump's interests and silencing critics. it's a slippery slope when you start monitoring social media activity, and the fact that they're expanding their surveillance program to two 24/7 centers is just plain creepy 
can't wait to see how this whole thing plays out in court... fingers crossed for free speech rights! 
and omg, aliens don't have different rights than us? that's just plain weird 
- newsflash, Tommy Pigott: all humans have free speech rights, regardless of their immigration status 