Applaud Court Protecting ICE Critic’s Free Speech Rights

A federal judge has blocked the Department of Homeland Security from threatening a New York man with prosecution over protected speech criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, handing David Streever an important preliminary victory in his First Amendment lawsuit.

The case began after Streever sent a harshly worded email to then-acting ICE Director Todd Lyons criticizing him and the agency. Months later, federal agents went to Streever’s home and later tracked him to a hotel where he was staying with his young daughter. Agents left a “warning notice” stating that he may have violated federal law.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras found that Streever was likely to succeed on his claim that the government had infringed his First Amendment rights. Contreras wrote that the warning notice effectively suggested Streever could be prosecuted if he continued engaging in political speech and issued a preliminary injunction while the lawsuit proceeds.

Add your name to applaud the court for protecting the right to criticize government officials and reinforcing First Amendment protections for political speech.