During the New York state primaries in June, **Paigelynne Gonyea**, a poll worker in Syracuse, found herself confronted by **ICE** agents. Their concern stemmed from an Instagram post she had made in January, which they alleged was "doxing" an **ICE** agent. Gonyea's post had credited the **Minnesota Star Tribune** for identifying **Jonathan Ross**, the **ICE** agent involved in the fatal shooting of **Renee Good** in Minneapolis, and called for his indictment. The agents presented Gonyea with a warning notice from **ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR)**. This notice stated it was unlawful to "threaten to assault, kidnap and/or murder" federal officials and requested she remove her post or discontinue her behavior. Gonyea, asserting her innocence, refused to sign, viewing it as an admission of guilt. ### OPR's Shifting Mandate? Typically, **OPR** functions as an internal watchdog, responsible for inspecting detention facilities, investigating employee misconduct, and managing security. However, this incident, initially reported by Syracuse.com, highlighted a concerning deviation from its stated mission. Court documents reveal a broader trend. An **ICE** official's April court declaration indicated that between January 2025 and March 2026, **OPR** investigated 131 cases related to "incidents of doxing and threats directed towards **ICE** employees nationwide." While the number of resulting criminal charges remains unclear, **WIRED** identified only one instance where **OPR** was credited in a **Department of Justice (DOJ)** case against a California man accused of harassing an **ICE** attorney. ### Free Speech Under Fire **Laura Moraff**, a staff attorney at the **ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project**, emphasizes the high bar for convicting individuals for their speech. "People do have a First Amendment right to criticize the government and to do that online and to do that anonymously," Moraff stated. **OPR** has also been linked to administrative subpoenas sent to tech companies, seeking to unmask online critics. In one case, a subpoena from **OPR** requested a poster's name, address, and other details, which lawyers argued violated free speech rights. The government subsequently withdrew the subpoena. ### Expanding Definitions and Oversight Concerns The Trump administration has claimed an increase in threats against **ICE** officers, though a 2025 **Los Angeles Times** analysis questioned a widely cited claim of a 1,000 percent increase. Agency officials have also attempted to broaden the definition of doxing to include photographing or videoing **ICE** employees in public, an activity generally considered lawful by free-speech experts. Last year, the **Department of Homeland Security (DHS)** updated its privacy notice for the **ICE Intelligence Records Systems**, stating it would collect information on individuals making "credible threats" against **ICE** personnel or facilities, including social media posts and location data. While **ICE** invests in investigating online commentators, **OPR** appears to be falling behind on other duties. A **Project on Government Oversight (POGO)** analysis found a significant drop in detention facility inspection reports published by the agency in 2025 compared to previous years. **Adam Steinbaugh**, a senior attorney at **FIRE**, a civil liberties group, highlighted the importance of legislative oversight. "I can't imagine that he would willingly go before Congress and say, 'Yeah, we’re speech police, that’s what you’re funding.' That’s not popular," Steinbaugh remarked regarding then-acting director of **ICE**, **Todd Lyons**, who in April testimony to the House Appropriations Committee, lauded **OPR**'s traditional duties but omitted any mention of investigating online posters. Gonyea intends to challenge the administration in court, emphasizing the broader implications: "This is literally about protecting all Americans’ right to free speech."