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Rochester man tracked to hotel after emailing ICE director critical letter

Jul 6, 2026 · Rochester, NY

Rochester man tracked to hotel after emailing ICE director critical letter

David Streever, a Rochester resident and former journalist, sent a critical email to then-acting ICE director Todd Lyons in January 2026 criticizing federal immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis, including a fatal shooting by federal officers. Months later, while Streever was traveling in Finland with his daughter, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents visited his home and delivered an unsigned warning form to his wife, alleging the email may have violated federal law by threatening a federal official. After returning to the United States, agents tracked Streever to a hotel near JFK Airport and left a business card. Streever's attorney stated the email contained no threats and characterized the visits as an attempt to suppress his First Amendment rights to free speech and petition. On July 6, 2026, Streever's attorney filed a federal lawsuit through the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, arguing the email was protected political speech.

Timeline

Jul 6, 2026Streever's attorney filed federal lawsuit challenging visits as First Amendment violation
Jun 30, 2026HSI agent tracked Streever to hotel near JFK Airport after his return from Finland and left business card
Jun 23, 2026HSI agents visited Streever's home while he was traveling in Finland and delivered warning form to his wife alleging email violated federal law
Jan 26, 2026David Streever sent critical email to then-acting ICE director Todd Lyons criticizing federal immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis

Sources

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