Key facts
- A poll worker in Syracuse, New York, was confronted by two federal officers at a voting location during primaries.
- The officers issued a written notice to the worker, Paigelynne Gonyea, for a social media post criticizing an ICE officer.
- Gonyea's post, made in January, included a picture of ICE officer Jonathan Ross and called for his indictment.
- Homeland Security stated that doxxing federal officers is a federal crime that endangers their lives and families.
- Another poll worker recorded the encounter, which Gonyea later posted on social media along with the unsigned warning letter.
- The New York Attorney General's Office is aware of the situation and is reviewing it.
- Advocates expressed concern that the encounter could be intimidating to voters and poll workers and may target protected speech.
A poll worker in Syracuse, New York, reported being confronted by two federal officers at a polling location during the state's primaries. Paigelynne Gonyea stated the officers visited her on Tuesday to discuss a social media post she made in January criticizing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, Jonathan Ross, who had fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis.
Gonyea said the officers presented her with a written notice, which she refused to sign, indicating she might have violated federal laws against publicly posting personal information about federal officers. The notice was from ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility. Gonyea stated the post, which remains online and identified Ross after he had been named by media, was made to support First Amendment rights.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Lauren Bis, stated that Gonyea committed a federal crime by posting the officer's information online and that doxxing federal law enforcement officers is a federal crime that endangers their lives and families. However, DHS did not provide specifics on why Gonyea's post was considered doxxing, as it did not include Ross's address.
Another poll worker, Sheilia Milledge, recorded the encounter, which showed two uniformed individuals speaking with Gonyea. Milledge described the incident as a "scare tactic" that shook the workers, though Gonyea confirmed no voters were present at the time.
Representatives from the New York Attorney General's Office confirmed they are aware of the situation and are reviewing it. A spokesperson for the New York State Board of Elections stated the incident did not disrupt voting and was unrelated to the election process. Onondaga County Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny also responded to the scene to ensure voting was not disrupted and connected Gonyea with resources.
Advocates, including Sean Morales-Doyle from the Brennan Center for Justice and attorney Adam Steinbaugh, expressed concern that such encounters could be intimidating to voters and poll workers and potentially infringe upon protected speech. U.S. Representative John Mannion sent a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin urging a review of the incident and calling for an end to ICE activities that target protected speech.