A second New York resident, David Streever of Rochester, was served with a warning by federal authorities over an email he sent to the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier this year. The email, which criticized ICE’s tactics, was deemed a threat by authorities.

Free Speech Concerns

Streever’s lawyer, Adam Steinbaugh, argued that the email was protected speech under the First Amendment and did not represent a legitimate threat. "A true threat is a serious expression of an intent to commit violence. This email doesn’t even come close," Steinbaugh said. "It’s political speech, it’s an act of petitioning your government."

The incident has raised concerns about free speech and government overreach. Nathan Freed Wessler, deputy director of the ACLU’s speech, privacy and technology project, said that the First Amendment guarantees the right to criticize the government. "Nobody should be tracked down at their home or hotel room by federal agents in retribution for sending an email merely expressing frustration and opposition to the government’s actions," Wessler said.

The warning to Streever was presented the same week that another New York resident, Paigelynne Gonyea, was confronted by federal officers at a voting site during the state’s primaries. Gonyea had made a social media post about Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer who killed U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good during an immigration enforcement-related incident in Minneapolis.

ICE Response

ICE has said that it investigates all credible threats towards its employees and officers, including threats to the ICE Director. However, free speech advocates argue that the incidents show federal law enforcement infringing on Americans’ rights to privacy and free expression.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.