Lawsuit challenges ICE warning notice sent after email calling acting director a 'monstrous' Nazi-like figure

David Streever filed a lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that federal agents violated his First Amendment rights by serving him a warning notice over an email he sent in January 2025. " The notice, delivered June 23, 2026, stated that the email may constitute a violation of Title 18 of the U.S.

Code and instructed Streever to discontinue the behavior. Reason reported that agents first visited Streever's Rochester, New York, home while he was returning from a trip to Finland with his daughter, then tracked him to a New York City hotel. The 45-year-old U.S.

Citizen and former journalist now works in tech. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which represents Streever, said the email contained no threats of violence or personal information about Lyons. On the same day agents contacted Streever's wife, they served a similar notice to Syracuse poll worker Paigelynn Gonyea over an Instagram post that named an ICE officer identified earlier by the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Reason reported that ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility investigated 131 cases of doxxing and threats against employees from January 2025 to March 2026. Streever stated that the notice led him to self-censor speech on social media and fear further surveillance or prosecution.