Rochester man tracked to hotel after emailing ICE director critical letter
Jul 6, 2026·Location: Rochester, NY

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
Sources
- He sent a harsh email to ICE's top official. 5 months later, federal agents tracked him down
NPR·Jul 1, 2026·archived copy
- Rochester man warned by ICE after writing blistering letter to agency, attorney says
cnycentral.com·Jun 29, 2026·archived copy
- Subpoenas, Stalking, and Hotel Raids: How Trump's Homeland Security Is Targeting Citizens Who Speak Out
ibtimes.co.uk·Jun 29, 2026·archived copy
- Man sues DHS after agents tracked him down for sending a scathing email to ICE
KUNC·Jul 6, 2026·archived copy
- puhs.org
- 2nd New Yorker Served Warning For Criticizing ICE
HuffPost·Jun 30, 2026·archived copy
- Rochester Man ICE Email Tracking: 6 Facts About the Case
creativehives.co·Jul 1, 2026·archived copy
- He sent an email criticizing ICE and then federal officers came to his home
nbcnewyork.com·Jul 6, 2026·archived copy
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