A US citizen in Rochester, New York, has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alleging that federal officers violated his First Amendment right to free speech. The suit was filed in Washington, D.C., after officers visited David Streever's home to issue a warning over an email he sent months earlier criticizing ICE leadership.
Streever sent an email in January to the then-acting director of ICE, Todd Lyons, expressing outrage after an ICE agent shot and killed US citizen Renee Nicole Good during an immigration raid in Minneapolis. In the email, Streever referred to Lyons as a "monstrous human being" and compared him to Reinhard Heydrich, a Nazi leader.
While Streever was traveling in Finland with his daughter in June, two ICE officers appeared at his home and presented his wife with a "warning notice." The notice stated that Streever "may be in violation of federal law" for his email and warned that his "behavior" should be discontinued, as it would be considered if he continued to be involved in "criminal activities."
According to the lawsuit, Streever's wife informed the officers that he was out of the country. Upon his return, federal officers attempted to confront him at a New York City hotel, but hotel staff denied them access. That same evening, officers repeatedly called Streever's phone, leaving voicemails that identified them only as Homeland Security Investigations.
Streever's attorney, Adam Steinbaugh of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, argued that the email constituted protected speech under the First Amendment and did not pose a legitimate threat. "If someone is really threatening a government official, you don’t wait five months to act on it," Steinbaugh stated. "The fact that authorities didn’t respond immediately shows that David presented no threat. This pursuit is designed to intimidate lawful speech, pure and simple."
Streever expressed his shock at the federal officers' actions, stating, "I cherish our right to speak openly about issues of public concern. I hope others will not be discouraged from peacefully expressing their views, even when those views are critical of the government." He added that he "never dreamed" writing an email would lead to a home visit or attempts to confront him.
The lawsuit seeks a court order directing DHS and ICE officials to cease their alleged "coercion and retaliation" against Streever for his protected speech.
The warning issued to Streever occurred in the same week that a poll worker in Syracuse, Paigelynne Gonyea, reported being confronted by federal officers at a voting site. Gonyea stated that the officers questioned her about a social media post she made concerning the ICE officer involved in the Minneapolis shooting. A DHS spokesperson confirmed an investigation into Gonyea for allegedly posting the ICE officer's address online, stating, "if you doxx our officers, we will investigate you, and you will be brought to justice."