DHS Issues Hundreds of Subpoenas to Identify ICE Critics Online - AI News Today Recency

# DHS Issues Hundreds of Subpoenas to Identify ICE Critics Online

The Department of Homeland Security has escalated its use of administrative subpoenas to unmask individuals who criticize Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations or document the agency's activities online.[1] This aggressive targeting of protected speech has drawn sharp criticism from civil liberties organizations and raised serious concerns about government overreach and First Amendment violations.

According to reporting by The New York Times, DHS has sent hundreds of administrative subpoenas to major technology companies including Google, Reddit, Discord, and Meta over the past several months.[1] These requests seek names, email addresses, telephone numbers, and other identifying information for accounts that have posted anti-ICE sentiment or reported the locations of ICE agents.[1] Several of these companies, including Google, Meta, and Reddit, have complied with at least some of the requests.[1]

Understanding Administrative Subpoenas and Government Overreach

Administrative subpoenas differ fundamentally from traditional warrants and are issued directly by the DHS without judicial oversight.[1] Historically, these tools were rarely deployed and were primarily reserved for investigating serious crimes such as child trafficking.[1] However, the government has dramatically increased its use of administrative subpoenas over the past year, raising alarm among legal experts and advocacy groups.

"It's a whole other level of frequency and lack of accountability," Steve Loney, a senior supervising attorney for the ACLU, told The New York Times.[1] The Electronic Frontier Foundation and ACLU have both called on technology companies to resist what they characterize as lawless DHS subpoenas that target constitutionally protected First Amendment activity.[2]

Documented Cases of DHS Targeting Activists and Critics

The DHS has systematically targeted individuals engaged in protected speech, according to civil liberties organizations tracking the trend.[2] One particularly troubling case involved a Cornell PhD student on a student visa who was targeted in April 2025 after briefly attending a protest the previous year.[2] Google complied with the DHS subpoena seeking to locate the student without providing him an opportunity to challenge the demand.[2]

In September 2025, DHS sent subpoenas to Meta targeting anonymous Instagram accounts that tracked ICE activity in communities across California and Pennsylvania.[2] These users, with assistance from the ACLU and its state affiliates, challenged the subpoenas in court, and DHS ultimately withdrew the demands before a court could rule on their legality.[2]

Another case involved a retiree who simply criticized DHS policies through an email requesting the agency use "common sense and decency" in a high-profile asylum case.[2] DHS responded by sending Google a subpoena demanding information about this individual, and federal agents subsequently appeared at the person's home.[2] The ACLU is currently challenging that subpoena in court.

Tech Companies' Response and Meta's Content Moderation Actions

The response from technology companies has been inconsistent, with some complying with subpoenas while others have resisted.[1] Google has sometimes broken its promise to provide users prior notice of subpoenas in order to avoid delays in compliance.[2]

In a related development, Meta began blocking links to ICE List in late January 2026—a website that publicly lists thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents' names.[1] Additionally, House Judiciary Committee member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) has requested that Apple and Google provide all communications with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the removal of ICE-tracking apps from their respective app stores.[1]

Broader Pattern of Intimidation Against ICE Observers

Beyond the subpoena campaign, civil rights organizations have documented a pattern of physical intimidation and violence against individuals documenting or protesting ICE activity.[4] Amended legal filings in Minnesota federal court include declarations from over 80 community members describing government intimidation, including pepper spraying, excessive force, unlawful arrests, and surveillance.[4] The American Civil Liberties Union, joined by pro bono partners and organizations including the largest labor union representing journalists, have filed complaints alleging systematic retaliation against people for gathering information about federal immigration agents' activities.[4]

Frequently Asked Questions

What are administrative subpoenas and how do they differ from warrants?

Administrative subpoenas are issued directly by government agencies like DHS without requiring judicial approval or oversight, unlike traditional warrants which must be approved by a judge based on probable cause.[1] Historically, they were rarely used and reserved for serious crimes, but DHS has dramatically increased their use in the past year.[1]

Which technology companies have received DHS subpoenas?

Google, Meta, Reddit, and Discord have all received administrative subpoenas from DHS seeking information about accounts that criticized ICE or documented the agency's activities.[1] Google, Meta, and Reddit have complied with at least some of these requests.[1]

What information is DHS requesting from tech companies?

DHS is asking technology companies for names, email addresses, telephone numbers, and any other identifying details for accounts that have criticized ICE or reported the locations of ICE agents.[1]

Have any of these subpoenas been challenged in court?

Yes, users in Pennsylvania and California challenged DHS subpoenas with help from the ACLU and its state affiliates, and DHS withdrew the subpoenas before a court could rule on their legality.[2] The ACLU is also currently challenging a subpoena related to a retiree who criticized DHS policies.[2]

What First Amendment concerns have civil liberties groups raised?

Organizations like the ACLU and Electronic Frontier Foundation argue that DHS is using administrative subpoenas as a tool to suppress protected speech and target individuals engaged in lawful First Amendment activity, including documenting government activities, criticizing the agency, and attending protests.[2]

Have there been other forms of intimidation beyond subpoenas?

Yes, civil rights filings document a broader pattern including pepper spraying, excessive force, unlawful arrests, surveillance, and intimidation against individuals observing, documenting, and protesting ICE activity in their communities.[4]