Sen. Rick Scott plans to introduce legislation to make doxxing federal law enforcement a federal crime, expanding protected categories of information and targeting those who publish officers’ personal details to obstruct or retaliate against their duties.
Sen. Rick Scott is set to file the Blocking Leaks Undermining Law Enforcement Act, often called the Blue Act, during National Police Week to curb doxxing aimed at federal officers. The proposal would criminalize sharing an officer’s personal information with the intent to obstruct, interfere with, or retaliate against their lawful duties. It also broadens the definition of protected information to cover current and expected officer locations regardless of duty status.
The measure arrives after a string of incidents that lawmakers say show a pattern of harassment and intimidation targeting federal agents, especially those involved in immigration enforcement. Groups monitoring ICE operations and individuals described as anti-ICE activists have increasingly publicized personal details, with privacy breaches and threatening behavior drawing sustained alarm from Republicans. Lawmakers framing the bill argue that this torrent of personal data exposure puts agents and their families at real, escalating risk.
Reports cited in the public debate say death threats against Homeland Security agents spiked roughly 8,000% since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, and activists have even mailed warning postcards to neighbors of agents. Allegations that the records of nearly 4,500 immigration officers were stored on databases frequented by radicals have intensified pressure for a legislative response. Those figures and incidents are central to Republicans’ argument that stronger federal penalties are necessary to protect operatives who carry out court-ordered and statutory duties.
Scott has attracted co-sponsors from his conference, with six GOP senators signing on early, including close Trump allies Sens. Mike Lee, Tommy Tuberville, and Marsha Blackburn. The bill’s supporters portray the effort as a commonsense protection for officers and families against targeted harassment campaigns. They also see it as a direct answer to organized watching and exposure efforts that sprang up in recent enforcement operations.
“Attacks on federal law enforcement are at an all time high, with perpetrators becoming increasingly more brazen in targeted physical and doxing attacks on officers and their families,” said Mathew Silverman, National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. “That is why we are grateful to the leadership of Sen. Scott to advance the ‘BLUE Act’ during National Police Week. This is a common sense bill to ensure appropriate penalties for those who seek to undermine public safety, and we urge Congress to swiftly send it to President Trump’s desk.”
Republican backers stress the bill targets malicious intent, not ordinary reporting, by focusing on actions taken to interfere with law enforcement functions. The language singled out in drafts criminalizes deliberately posting names, addresses, phone numbers, travel plans, and anticipated locations when that disclosure is meant to disrupt operations or retaliate. Supporters believe that clarity in the statute will deter coordinated rings that collect and publish officer data to thwart court-ordered removals and other federal actions.
Opponents will likely raise civil liberties concerns, and the proposal is expected to face scrutiny over how intent is proved and how public records are treated. Still, proponents counter that the law is narrowly tailored to punish those who weaponize private information against officers and their families, not to chill legitimate journalism. Congressional Republicans argue the balance must tilt toward officer safety when targeted doxxing crosses into threats and obstruction.
The bill also takes aim at so-called ICE Watchers, a phenomenon highlighted during enforcement surges in cities such as Minneapolis under Operation Metro Surge. Sponsors say the measure will give prosecutors clear tools to go after organized networks that track agents’ movements and publish personal details. As the bill moves through committee discussions, Republican senators plan to frame it as part of a broader effort to restore respect for federal law enforcement and shield personnel from coordinated campaigns of intimidation.
