Federal Officers Warn Upstate New Yorkers Over Anti-ICE Communications

Two upstate New York residents received warnings from federal officers regarding their critical online activities against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). David Streever of Rochester discovered that officers visited his home while he was in Finland. They left a notice with his wife, labeling an email he sent months earlier as threatening. Streever’s message targeted Todd Lyons, the then-acting director of ICE, after an immigration officer fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis during an anti-ICE protest.

In his email, Streever called Lyons “a monstrous human being” who “will never know peace.” His attorney, Adam Steinbaugh from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, stated that agents attempted to confront Streever again in New York City, but hotel staff rebuffed them.

Similarly, poll worker Paigelynne Gonyea from Syracuse reported that federal officers approached her at a voting location during New York’s primaries. They questioned her about a social media post concerning the officer who shot Good. Gonyea had shared a photo of Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer involved, expressing that “I think today is a great day for Jonathan to be indicted.”

ICE stated they investigate credible threats against their personnel. A statement from the agency emphasized, “ICE investigates all credible threats towards its employees and officers, including threats to the ICE Director.” However, Steinbaugh defended Streever’s email as protected speech, arguing it didn’t constitute a true threat but rather political criticism.

Streever expressed concern over being visited by federal agents, noting, “Like many Americans, I was deeply upset after the shootings in Minnesota and I felt compelled to do something. Writing a letter to the head of ICE seemed like the least I could do to express my sense of outrage. I never dreamed it would lead to a knock on my door by federal officers.”

Lauren Bis from the Department of Homeland Security remarked on Gonyea’s actions, claiming she committed a federal crime by sharing Ross’s address. Bis warned, “If you doxx our officers, we will investigate you, and you will be brought to justice.”

The New York Attorney General’s Office is aware of these interactions and is reviewing the events involving Gonyea and the federal agents at the polling station. Free speech advocates argue these incidents exemplify federal overreach, threatening privacy and expression rights. Nathan Freed Wessler from the ACLU asserted, “Nobody should be tracked down at their home or hotel room by federal agents in retribution for sending an email merely expressing frustration and opposition to the government’s actions. This is an abuse of power and a gross attempt to chill Americans’ constitutionally protected speech.”