- A Rochester resident, David Streever, is suing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after federal agents tracked him down for sending a critical email to a former ICE director, alleging violations of his First Amendment rights.
- Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) visited Streever's home and later a hotel to deliver a 'WARNING NOTICE' regarding an email he wrote comparing the ICE official to a Nazi, claiming it may violate federal laws against threatening officials.
- The lawsuit, filed by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), argues that the government's actions are designed to chill free speech and seeks court orders to protect Streever from further retaliation and declare the warning notices unconstitutional.
- In a related incident, HSI agents also confronted poll worker Paigelynne Gonyea about an Instagram post related to an ICE officer, accusing her of doxxing, though she denies posting the officer's address and questions the government's evidence.
- DHS defends its actions by stating it investigates all credible threats to employees, but critics, including FIRE attorneys, argue the delayed responses and targeting of critics are intimidation tactics rather than legitimate investigations.