New York Residents Challenge ICE Over Freedom of Speech

A resident of upstate New York has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deploying federal officers to his home following an email he sent to the former head of the agency. David Streever, an American citizen, was in Finland when two officers visited his residence in Rochester in June. They issued a warning to his wife, claiming that an email he had sent months earlier was perceived as threatening, according to his legal representatives.

Streever dispatched the email in January to Todd Lyons, the then-acting director of ICE, after the shooting death of Minneapolis resident Renee Good during an anti-ICE protest. In his message, Streever labeled Lyons as “a monstrous human being” and claimed Lyons “will never know peace.” He argued in a lawsuit filed in Washington D.C. that ICE violated his First Amendment rights.

Streever is not alone. He is one of at least two New York residents who received a warning from federal authorities in June after criticizing ICE online. Represented by the Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Streever claims his right to free expression was breached. “This clearly falls under First Amendment protection,” stated Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney with the foundation, asserting that it was a matter of political speech.

ICE representatives have previously refrained from commenting on Streever’s warning due to an ongoing investigation and did not provide further remarks on Monday. The legal action also implicates Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. His office released a statement denying any attempts to suppress free speech, calling such allegations “categorically FALSE.” The statement added that threats against law enforcement officers would have consequences.

The full content of Streever’s email included the subject line “What’s next” and made references to a Nazi leader, portraying Lyons as “America’s Reinhard Heydrich, the butcher.” The email continued with critiques of Lyons’ protection of actions in Minnesota, suggesting his eventual downfall.

In addition to the visit to Streever’s home, federal agents attempted to approach him at a New York City hotel upon his return from Finland. However, hotel staff turned them away, Steinbaugh reported.

In the same week, federal officials also visited Paigelynne Gonyea, a poll worker, to interrogate her about a social media post. Gonyea had posted “I think today is a great day for Jonathan to be indicted,” featuring a picture of Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer involved in the shooting of Good. The post was made in January after Ross’s name appeared in news reports. Lauren Bis, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, stated that Gonyea committed a federal crime by allegedly posting Ross’s address online. June’s statement from Bis warned that those exposing officer addresses would be investigated.

The New York Attorney General’s Office acknowledged awareness of these interactions, noting they were reviewing the federal agents’ engagement with Gonyea at the polls.