Trump administration's immigration policy censors speech, lawsuit says

The Coalition for Independent Technology Research called the policy a \

A new federal lawsuit filed against President Donald Trump’s administration alleges that actions against noncitizens based on their work in fact-checking and content moderation is unconstitutional censorship. 

The Coalition for Independent Technology Research, a U.S.-based nonprofit made up of academics and others with a mission to “advance, defend and sustain the right to ethically study the impact of technology on society,” filed its complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on March 9.  

It accused Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi of “(adopting) a new policy of excluding and deporting noncitizens whose work involves combatting misinformation and disinformation, fact-checking, content moderation, trust and safety, or compliance.”  

The alleged policy is a “flagrant violation of the First Amendment,” the complaint said. It also accused the administration of having a “goal of punishing independent researchers, advocates and others who research and report on the major internet platforms.”  

A Justice Department spokesperson told USA TODAY the department “respects the First Amendment” and said federal law allowing the administration to remove individuals who pose a potential risk to the country’s interests is “fully consistent” with the Constitution.