The Department of Homeland Security is being sued over its practice of dispatching ICE agents to the homes and workplaces of people who criticise the agency online or by email. A lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, DC, by David Streever — who received a "warning notice" after emailing ICE's then-acting director a vitriolic but non-threatening message — alleges the government is using accusations of "doxing" and threats to intimidate and silence dissent. The case matters because it raises serious First Amendment questions about whether the state is retaliating against protected political speech.

The article says Streever's experience is not isolated: ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility has opened more than 100 investigations into alleged doxing and threats, though apparently no criminal charges have been filed. DHS is accused of conflating criticism with genuine threats, and of labelling the naming of agents — even those whose identities are already public — as "doxing". Reporting cited in the piece notes DHS has sent hundreds of administrative subpoenas to platforms such as Google, Reddit, Discord and Meta seeking to identify critics. DHS denies suppressing free speech, saying it investigates all credible threats against its officers, including against the ICE director.