Senior officials within the Trump administration’s Department of Justice are reportedly preparing legal strategies to investigate and potentially prosecute journalists, immigration lawyers, and NGO workers who document or support migrants. These efforts include expanding the use of anti-terror laws to classify such work as “material support for illegal activity.” While no formal directive has been issued, sources inside the DOJ suggest this policy is under serious development.
This signals a potential institutional weaponization of the legal system to suppress civil society actors — especially those engaged in dissent, humanitarian support, or critical journalism. Similar tactics have been used in authoritarian regimes like Russia and Turkey to silence opposition through legal intimidation and selective prosecution.
This Watch Signal has been reviewed and flagged with high confidence. No public directive has been issued, but the threat level is significant due to the DOJ’s documented intent, the nature of the targeted groups, and the broader context of democratic erosion. This development should be monitored closely for escalation — especially if any executive orders, indictments, or policy memos emerge.