Blog
Published on December 18, 2025
By: Democracy Protection Intern, Lauryne Vassor
This guest post does not necessarily reflect the views or expertise of Human Rights First.
We are experiencing an era of democratic backsliding with rights long taken for granted coming under attack by authoritarian tactics at both the federal and state levels. Democratic backsliding is a slow process of consolidating authoritarian power through steady and calculated restrictions. The sanctity of a free press is a litmus test for the health of a democracy-and its repression a litmus test for the strength of authoritarian power. In the United States, we are watching an escalation of targeted attacks against journalists, media platforms, and public dissent writ large. The Trump Administration’s rapid concentration of executive power and far-reaching repressive policies are clear examples of democratic backsliding.
The United States has a complex history with dissent — particularly during moments of political and social upheaval. From the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s to the Vietnam War protests that followed, and more recently the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, authorities have repeatedly responded to times of political unrest with violence, surveillance, and suppression. While the tactics directed against journalists and dissenters are not new, what we are witnessing today is an escalation of the democratic failures of the past. In 2024 alone, at least 48 journalists were arrested or detained in the United States while reporting on protests related to the Israel-Gaza conflict, and yet this is not the first time our democratic values have been tested in this way. Today’s wave of repression marks a troubling evolution, one in which the tools of immigration enforcement and national security are increasingly intertwined with domestic policing to silence both citizens and non-citizens alike.
A recent indicator of democratic erosion in the United States began on April 17, 2024, when protesters at Columbia University gained national attention for their solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. During these demonstrations, journalists covering the events at times faced intimidation, arrests, and aggressive crowd-control tactics – signaling a troubling shift in how this administration and its supporters would deal with those they viewed as political threats. These campus demonstrations were an early warning of how easily dissent can be reframed as disloyalty—a pattern now visible across the country.
The most widespread attacks on free speech are being interwoven with repressive immigration policies, including those targeting foreign journalists. In September the Department of Homeland Security proposed new regulations that would significantly alter the process for journalists to stay and work in the United States. Under the current “duration of status” system, these visa-holders may remain in the country as long as they comply with the terms of their visa. The proposed rule would replace that flexibility with fixed admission periods that limit journalists to 240 days, without explicit or consistent extension criteria. More troubling still, the rule grants immigration officials broad discretion to deny extensions based on political beliefs or affiliations, effectively allowing ideology to dictate who can report within the United States. By transforming visa status from a legal pathway into a precarious privilege, this proposal poses a direct threat to press independence, and the free exchange of ideas.
These visa changes could be used to quash dissenting voices, a critical attack on our democratic norms, using punitive approaches to suppress political dissent by framing journalists as national threats. British journalist Sami Hamdi, an outspoken critic of Israel, was detained by ICE officers, and shortly afterward, his visa was revoked in October. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson defended the action, stating, “The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who support terrorism and actively undermine the safety of Americans.” Hamdi’s detention sends a chilling message: criticism of the U.S. or Israel’s policies could be met with immediate consequences.
Recent actions by this administration are collapsing the distinction between legitimate governance and coercive control, allowing state actors to frame suppression as security and censorship as stability. Some news outlets, like 60 Minutes, have borne the brunt of the Trump administration’s hostility and attacks. Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS’s “60 Minutes,” agreed to a $16 million settlement, rather than fighting a lawsuit brought by Trump against 60 Minutes for broadcasting an edited interview with presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
The administration’s retaliation has extended even to one of the most widely respected news organizations in the world. In February 2025, the Associated Press was outlawed by the White House press pool after publishing reports that contradicted the Trump administration’s public narrative. In response, the Associated Press sought reinstatement through federal courts, a measure that illustrates how far the administration was willing and is willing to go to control who may have access to the White House and what information reaches the mainstream public. Banning a major wire service from the press pool signifies that independent reporting is not just discouraged but actively punished, representing a dangerous escalation. Similarly, on October 15th the Department of Defense issued an ultimatum for Pentagon press, requiring journalists to sign a “pledge” to not gather nor publish any unapproved information, even if it is unclassified. This change resulted in a mass exodus and the New York Times bringing a lawsuit against the Pentagon. This is yet another example of this administration’s blatant attempt to control the flow of information and stifle a free press, a subjugation tactic long embraced by dictators around the world.
The administration’s hostility toward media critics has not been confined to traditional news outlets. On September 11th, host Jimmy Kimmel became a target after criticizing President Trump’s response to political activist Charlie Kirk’s death, stating, “With all these terrible things happening, you would think that our president would at least make an attempt to bring us together, but he didn’t, President Obama did. President Biden did. Presidents Bush and Clinton did. President Trump did not. Instead, he blamed Democrats for their rhetoric.” In response, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr threatened ABC’s affiliate broadcast licenses if they did not “take action.” Soon after on September 15th he was swiftly suspended with ABC news stating he was removed due to his comments — an action reversed soon after in part due to mass public outcry. Kimmel’s suspension underscored how quickly criticism can be met with punitive consequences, reinforcing a climate in which dissenting voices are disciplined rather than debated.
Piece by piece, our quintessential democratic rights are being threatened. Our ability to speak freely, express dissent, and hold power to account without fear of retaliation continues to face challenges. This erosion of rights isn’t abstract — it’s already unfolding in real time. From visa retaliation to the silencing of journalists, these are an emerging pattern that illustrates a democratic crisis on the horizon. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are bastions of a healthy democracy. Yet, with every arrest, every silenced voice, and every controlled headline, those freedoms are slipping away. History has shown us what happens when truth is seen as the enemy of those in power. This fight is not just for advocates and journalists; it’s for everyone’s right to speak, to question, and to exist without fear. As Americans, we are taught to believe in truth and transparency, and we must refuse to yield because defending free expression is not optional.
