GOP senators introduce anti-doxxing bill to protect federal officers from 'radical left lunatics'

Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida has introduced a bill that would criminally penalize individuals who doxx the locations, both current and expected, of federal law enforcement officers. This is in response to continued doxxing activities by anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activists across the nation.

The Blocking Leaks Undermining Law Enforcement (BLUE) Act creates a new criminal prohibition that would make it illegal "to share certain protected information about a federal law enforcement officer when done with the intent to obstruct, interfere with, or retaliate against their official duties or proceedings," which is intended, in part, to "shield federal law enforcement officers and their families from credible violent threats."

Additionally, the legislation expands on what information is defined as protected, "clarifying that, for federal law enforcement officers, protected information includes not just personal details but also their current or expected physical locations, whether on or off duty."

"It is despicable that radical left-wing protesters are routinely attacking federal law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to protect Americans," Senator Rick Scott of Florida said in a press release. "Democrats continue protecting criminal illegal aliens and their radical left-wing defenders instead of the law enforcement officers keeping our communities safe. Trump Derangement Syndrome and years of 'defund the police' rhetoric has gone too far, and the BLUE Act protects law enforcement officers doing their jobs and keeps their families' identities safe. I proudly stand with federal law enforcement against the lunatics putting public safety at risk."

The BLUE Act is cosponsored by Republican US Senators Mike Lee of Utah, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Tedd Budd of North Carolina, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, and Mike Rounds of South Dakota, and endorsed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA).

Since the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term, radical leftists have been doxxing federal law enforcement officers, particularly those involved in immigration enforcement operations. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recorded an 8,000 percent spike in death threats against its agents due to doxxing. Last year, DHS initiated an investigation into a prominent Portland Antifa blog that had routinely disclosed the identities and addresses of ICE agents in Oregon and Washington.

Anti-ICE radicals have also sent threatening postcards to agents' neighbors, and created an ICE surveillance database containing data of about 4,5000 immigration agents, per Townhall.

"Violent anti-police protesters are purposely endangering our law enforcement officers and their families with doxxing and threats," said Senator Mike Lee of Utah in a press release. "To protect the patriots who keep us safe, the BLUE Act will outlaw sharing their personal information with the intention of obstructing or retaliating against their police work. As politicized threats against their lives increase, this change will provide the legal shield that our law enforcement officers and their families need to continue protecting Americans every day."

Notably, the measure would prohibit "ICE Watch" groups from forming around the country, most prevalent in Minneapolis, Portland, and Los Angeles, where anti-ICE activists have established networks that doxx federal agents' whereabouts in order to disrupt ICE activities.