WASHINGTON (VINnews) — A New York man has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alleging federal agents violated his First Amendment rights by visiting his home after he sent a sharply worded email criticizing the agency’s leadership over its immigration enforcement tactics.
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David Streever, a Rochester resident and U.S. citizen, claims federal agents delivered a warning notice to his wife while he was traveling overseas, alleging that an email he sent months earlier to then-acting ICE Director Todd Lyons could violate federal law.
According to The New York Post, Streever was traveling in Finland with his 7-year-old daughter when two federal officers went to his home and handed his wife the notice. Agents later attempted to contact him at a New York City hotel after he returned to the United States and repeatedly called his cellphone.
The lawsuit stems from an email Streever sent in January after an ICE agent fatally shot U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good during an immigration raid in Minneapolis. In the email, Streever harshly criticized Lyons, calling him “a monstrous human being” and comparing him to a Nazi official. His attorneys argue the message constituted protected political speech, not a true threat.
Represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Streever alleges the government’s actions were intended to intimidate him for exercising his constitutional right to criticize public officials. The lawsuit seeks a court order preventing DHS and ICE from retaliating against him for protected speech.
The case comes as another upstate New York resident said federal agents questioned her over social media posts criticizing ICE. DHS has denied attempting to suppress free speech, saying it investigates credible threats against its personnel.
Hard to judge if this was a threat or not without the text of the letter.
Loser