Judge: Ice's Warning to Critic Breached First Amendment Rights
WHO:
The Washington Post - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
The Guardian - Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The Guardian - Judge Rudolph Contreras
The Guardian - David Streever, a New York man
The Guardian - Todd Lyons, former ICE director
The Guardian - Markwayne Mullin, DHS secretary
The Guardian - Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (Fire)
WHAT:
The Washington Post - A federal judge ruled that ICE likely violated the Constitution by issuing a warning notice to David Streever.
The Guardian - Judge Contreras blocked DHS from threatening prosecution against Streever for his criticism of ICE.
The Guardian - The court order prohibits DHS and ICE from issuing another warning notice or pursuing prosecution for Streever's speech while his case is ongoing.
The Guardian - Streever described Todd Lyons as a “monstrous human being” in an email and warned that Lyons' conscience would “eat himself alive.”
WHERE:
The Washington Post - Rochester, New York
The Guardian - Washington, D.C.
The Guardian - Streever's home and a hotel where he and his daughter were staying
WHEN:
The Guardian - The warning notice was delivered to Streever in June.
The Guardian - Streever sent the email to Lyons in January.
The Guardian - The ruling was made late Tuesday.
WHY:
The Guardian - Streever accused DHS officials of violating his First Amendment rights due to the warning notice and visits.
The Guardian - DHS defended its investigation by linking Streever's email to a trend of threats against law enforcement officials enforcing the Trump administration’s anti-immigration agenda.
HOW:
The Guardian - DHS officials showed up at Streever's home and hotel with a warning notice claiming he made a threat against Todd Lyons.
(UPDATED September 16, 2026 22:03 UTC)
A federal judge has ruled that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement likely violated the Constitution by issuing a warning notice to David Streever, who criticized former ICE director Todd Lyons. Judge Rudolph Contreras has blocked the Department of Homeland Security from threatening prosecution against Streever for his speech, and the court order prohibits any further warnings or legal action while the case is ongoing. Streever had previously described Lyons as a “monstrous human being” in an email, which DHS officials linked to a broader trend of threats against law enforcement enforcing Trump's anti-immigration policies.