The US Department of Justice has reportedly been relying on a rarely used Civil War-era conspiracy law to prosecute protesters accused of obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, prompting concern from some legal experts and civil liberties advocates who say the strategy could have implications for free speech and peaceful protest.
According to a public review of federal court records, prosecutors have brought more than three dozen cases under the statute since President Donald Trump returned to office, with all of them linked to demonstrations against immigration enforcement.
