Critic Sues DHS for Tracking Him Over Critical Email to ICE
WHO:
Alternet - David Streever, a Rochester resident, is the plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and several officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and former ICE head Todd Lyons.
NPR - The lawsuit is supported by the nonprofit Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).
WHAT:
Alternet - David Streever described his email to Todd Lyons as expressing outrage over police actions during protests, specifically stating, "The way you are protecting the obvious execution in Minnesota, even as we see the videos, will lead to your downfall."
Alternet - The "WARNING NOTICE" delivered to Streever's wife stated, "YOU MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW" for sending his email to the ICE director and insisted he should "promptly … discontinue" his "behavior."
NPR - The lawsuit claims that the issuance of formal "WARNING NOTICE" documents by ICE to critics is intended to "systemically chill ICE's critics and coerce them into silence."
Alternet - Streever filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., alleging violations of his First Amendment rights after federal agents tracked him down for a critical email he sent to ICE.
NPR - The lawsuit argues that Streever's January email was protected speech and that the actions of federal agents constituted a violation of his rights.
NPR - The lawsuit seeks a court declaration that Streever's email was protected by the First Amendment and requests to bar further actions against him for his speech.
WHERE:
Alternet - The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
Alternet - Streever resides in Rochester, New York, and was tracked down at a hotel in New York City after returning from Finland.
WHEN:
Alternet - Streever sent the email to Todd Lyons on January 26.
NPR - Federal agents visited Streever's home on June 23 and later attempted to contact him at a hotel after he returned to the U.S.
WHY:
Alternet - Streever wrote the email expressing outrage over police actions during protests, specifically referencing the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizen observers by federal immigration officers in Minnesota.
NPR - The lawsuit claims that DHS is threatening free speech and retaliating against individuals who criticize law enforcement officials.
HOW:
Alternet - Streever's doorbell video recorded federal agents ringing his doorbell and looking through the windows of his home before ultimately leaving without making contact.
NPR - Streever was informed by the hotel front desk that a federal agent had come to see him and left a business card, raising concerns about how DHS tracked his location.
Alternet - Federal agents attempted to deliver a "WARNING NOTICE" to Streever, alleging he may be in violation of federal law for his email.
NPR - The agents tracked Streever to his hotel without being informed of his location by his wife, raising concerns about surveillance methods used by DHS.
(UPDATED July 6, 2026 23:22 UTC)
David Streever expressed his outrage over police actions during protests in an email to Todd Lyons, stating that the way law enforcement is handling the situation in Minnesota could lead to their downfall. Following this, Streever received a "WARNING NOTICE" addressed to his wife, claiming that he may be in violation of federal law for sending the email and urging him to discontinue his behavior. Additionally, Streever's doorbell video captured federal agents at his home, and he was later informed by a hotel front desk that an agent had visited him, raising concerns about how the Department of Homeland Security is tracking his location.
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(UPDATED July 6, 2026 19:33 UTC)
David Streever, a Rochester resident, has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and several officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, claiming violations of his First Amendment rights after federal agents tracked him down for a critical email he sent to ICE. The lawsuit, supported by the nonprofit Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, seeks a court declaration that Streever's January email was protected speech and aims to prevent further actions against him for expressing his views on police conduct during protests. Streever alleges that DHS is threatening free speech and retaliating against individuals who criticize law enforcement, as federal agents attempted to deliver a "WARNING NOTICE" to him at a hotel in New York City after tracking him down without prior notification of his location.