DoomsdaysCW<p>1/2 US Protest Law Tracker - Updates to <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Federal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Federal</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Protest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Protest</span></a> Laws introduced in 2025.</p><p>Latest updates: Jun. 10, 2025 (US Federal)</p><p>Providing for deportation of non-citizens who commit protest-related offenses</p><p>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 <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/LosAngeles" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LosAngeles</span></a> as the impetus for his bill.<br>(Full text of Bill: <a href="https://www.cotton.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/61025novisasforviolentcriminalsactreintro.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">cotton.senate.gov/imo/media/do</span><span class="invisible">c/61025novisasforviolentcriminalsactreintro.pdf</span></a>)<br>Status: pending<br>Introduced 10 Jun 2025.<br>Issue(s): Traffic Interference</p><p>Heightened penalties for "<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/riot" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>riot</span></a>" offenses</p><p>Would amend the federal <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AntiRioting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AntiRioting</span></a> 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 <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/property" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>property</span></a>—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.<br>Status: pending<br>Introduced 10 Jun 2025.<br>Issue(s): Riot</p><p>HR 2272: Blocking <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FinancialAid" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FinancialAid</span></a> to students who commit a "riot"-related offense</p><p>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 <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/LoanForgiveness" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LoanForgiveness</span></a> 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 “<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>organizing</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/promoting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>promoting</span></a>, 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.”<br>(Full text of bill: <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2272" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">congress.gov/bill/119th-congre</span><span class="invisible">ss/house-bill/2272</span></a>)<br>Status: pending<br>Introduced 21 Mar 2025.<br>Issue(s): <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CampusProtests" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CampusProtests</span></a>, Riot, Limit on <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PublicBenefits" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PublicBenefits</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/HR2273" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HR2273</span></a>: Providing for visa revocation and deportation of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/noncitizens" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>noncitizens</span></a> who commit a "riot"-related offense</p><p>Would require the Secretary of State to revoke the visa of and make deportable a noncitizen <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/student" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>student</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/scholar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>scholar</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/teacher" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>teacher</span></a>, or <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/specialist" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>specialist</span></a> 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 <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SocialMediaPost" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SocialMediaPost</span></a> to cheering on <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/demonstrators" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>demonstrators</span></a> in a protest that was deemed a “riot.” <br>(Full text of bill: <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2273" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">congress.gov/bill/119th-congre</span><span class="invisible">ss/house-bill/2273</span></a>)<br>Status: pending<br>Introduced 21 Mar 2025.<br>Issue(s): Campus Protests, Riot</p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/S1017" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>S1017</span></a>: New federal criminal penalties for protests near <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/pipelines" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>pipelines</span></a></p><p>Would create a new federal <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/felony" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>felony</span></a> offense that could apply to protests of planned or operational pipelines. The bill would broadly criminalize under federal law “knowingly and willfully” “<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/vandalizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>vandalizing</span></a>, 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 <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/lawsuit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>lawsuit</span></a> challenging a pipeline’s <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/permit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>permit</span></a> 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.<br>(Full text of bill: <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1017" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">congress.gov/bill/119th-congre</span><span class="invisible">ss/senate-bill/1017</span></a>)<br>Status: pending<br>Introduced 13 Mar 2025.<br>Issue(s): Protest Supporters or Funders, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Infrastructure" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Infrastructure</span></a><br> <br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProtestLaws" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProtestLaws</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/protestors" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>protestors</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/protestors_in_prison" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>protestors_in_prison</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CivilLiberties" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CivilLiberties</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Fascism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Fascism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/USA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>USA</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NoKings" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NoKings</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Project2025" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Project2025</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/TrumpIsAFascist" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TrumpIsAFascist</span></a></p>