A New York resident has been warned by federal authorities over an email criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following an officer-involved shooting in 2023. David Streever of Rochester received a notification from officials last week while on a trip to Finland, delivered to his wife at their home. The email, sent in January 2024 to then-acting ICE director Todd Lyons, referred to the 2023 death of U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good during an ICE-related encounter in Minneapolis.
In the email, Streever described Lyons as a “monstrous human being” and predicted his personal downfall, citing ICE’s handling of the Minneapolis incident. His attorney, Adam Steinbaugh, stated the message included phrases like, “You will be a sad, despised man who eats himself alive with shame at your own pathetic weakness.” Federal agents later attempted to confront Streever at a New York City hotel upon his return from Finland but were denied entry by staff.
Steinbaugh defended the email as constitutionally protected political speech under the First Amendment. “A true threat is a serious expression of intent to commit violence. This email doesn’t even come close,” he said. Streever expressed shock at federal involvement, stating he sent the email as a response to public outrage over the shootings and never expected legal consequences.
A separate incident this month involved Syracuse poll worker Paigelynne Gonyea, who said federal agents questioned her at a voting site about a January social media post referencing Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer who killed Good. Gonyea shared a post captioned, “I think today is a great day for Jonathan to be indicted.” A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson later cited a different post allegedly showing her sharing Ross’s address, calling it a federal crime and warning of investigations against individuals who “doxx” law enforcement.
Civil liberties advocates have condemned both cases as overreach by federal authorities. Nathan Freed Wessler of the American Civil Liberties Union’s speech, privacy, and technology project emphasized the First Amendment’s protection of government criticism. “Nobody should be tracked down at home or hotel by federal agents for sending an email expressing frustration,” he said. ICE and DHS maintain they investigate credible threats and harassment of law enforcement, though neither agency has publicly explained the legal basis for classifying Streever’s email as a threat.
