A recent investigation has brought to light a concerning pattern of **Immigration and Customs Enforcement** (**ICE**) employing administrative subpoenas to probe individuals for their online activities. These investigations have reportedly targeted a wide range of users, including those who document ICE operations in their communities, social media users critical of government policies, and international students participating in protests. ### The Scope of Administrative Subpoenas Administrative subpoenas, which do not require judicial review, have become a favored tool for ICE to request basic subscriber data from technology companies. Data obtained by **Just Futures Law** reveals that between 2018 and 2020, ICE issued nearly 500 such subpoenas to **Meta**, **Google**, and **X**. More recently, **Reddit**'s Transparency Report indicated that the **Department of Homeland Security** (**DHS**) sent 21 administrative subpoenas to the platform in the second half of 2025 alone. While some subpoenas are routine, a significant number have been withdrawn after users mounted legal challenges or companies pushed back. These withdrawn subpoenas often exceeded the agency's statutory authority and infringed upon users' First Amendment rights. ### Documented Cases of Challenged Subpoenas The full extent of these subpoenas is difficult to ascertain, as they typically only come to light when users receive notice and challenge them in court, or when companies include them in transparency reports. **Reddit** is currently the only platform that appears to provide specific figures on DHS subpoenas. Here's a non-comprehensive list of DHS subpoenas that have been publicly reported or challenged in court since 2025, highlighting the targeted companies, individuals, and outcomes: | DATE ISSUED (and link to subpoena) | TARGETED COMPANY | INDIVIDUAL USER TARGETED | OUTCOME | |---|---|---|---| | 3/17/25 | **Facebook** | **Momodou Taal**, international student who attended pro-Palestinian protest | Withdrawn | | 3/23/25 | **Google** | **Momodou Taal**, international student who attended pro-Palestinian protest | Withdrawn | | [4/1/25](https://www.eff.org/files/2026/04/13/eff_letter_re_google_notice_-_exhibits.pdf) | **Google** | **Amandla Thomas-Johnson**, international student who attended pro-Palestinian protest | **Google** disclosed data to ICE on 5/8/25 | | [9/4/25](https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.456560/gov.uscourts.cand.456560.1.3.pdf) | **Meta** | 6 accounts in Southern California that documented immigration activity, including **LB_Protest**, **Long Beach Rapid Response Network**, and **Stopice.net** | Withdrawn after court challenge on 11/24/25 | | [9/11/25](https://www.aclupa.org/cases/doe_dhs/?document=001-4-Exhibit-B-to-Doe-Declaration#documents)* | **Meta** (Instagram) | Pennsylvania account called "**MontCo Community Watch**" that documented immigration activity | Withdrawn after court challenge on 1/16/26 | | [9/11/25](https://www.aclupa.org/cases/doe_dhs/?document=001-3-Exhibit-A-to-Doe-Declaration#documents)* | **Meta** (Facebook) | Pennsylvania account called "**MontCo Community Watch**" that documented immigration activity | Withdrawn after court challenge on 1/16/26 | | [10/30/25](https://www.aclu.org/cases/doe-v-dhs?document=Exhibit-E-to-Doe-Declaration#legal-documents) | **Google** | Retired Philadelphia user who emailed criticism to U.S. prosecutor | Withdrawn after court challenge on 2/5/26 | | [2/4/26](https://www.acludc.org/cases/challenging-dhs-action-to-unmask-social-media-critics/?document=Exhibit-A-Redacted-summons)* | **Google** | Social media user who regularly posts criticism of the President | Subpoena challenged in Court | | [2/19/26](https://www.eff.org/document/nd-cal-26-mc-80074-dckt-000001002)* | **Reddit** | "**Tired_Thumb**," user who posted about ICE officer | Withdraw after court challenge on 3/27/26; replaced with grand jury subpoena | | [2/27/26](https://www.eff.org/document/wd-tex-26-mc-00861-dckt-000001002)* | **X** | "**podslurp**,” who posted publicly available address information about ICE officer | Withdrawn May 2026; replaced with grand jury subpoena | | 3/7/26 | **PayPal**/**Venmo** | "**Voices of Racial Justice**," a racial justice organization in Minnesota | **PayPal**/**Venmo** disclosed data 3/20/26 | | [4/3/26](https://www.eff.org/document/d-minn-26-cr-00025-dckt-000642004)* | **Google** (YouTube) | **@TheDonLemonShow**, **GeorgiaFort**, **@DemocracyNow**, and seven other accounts that reported on protest at Minnesota church | **Google** Objected 4/7/26 | | [4/12/26](https://www.eff.org/document/d-minn-26-cr-00025-dckt-000642005)* | **T-Mobile** | Minnesota journalist **Georgia Fort** and others | **T-Mobile** disclosed data on 4/12/26 | | First half of 2025 | **Reddit** | Reddit account | Subpoena withdrawn after questions from **Reddit** | | Second half of 2025 | **Reddit** | 11 Reddit accounts that posted content "critical of ICE actions" | 3 subpoenas withdrawn | Privacy advocates and legal organizations continue to press for greater transparency and accountability regarding ICE's use of these powerful investigative tools, emphasizing the need to protect users' constitutional rights in the digital age.