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June 10, 2026
DHS Admits to Collecting Data on Protesters, Raising Civil Liberties Concerns
- A letter from former ICE director Todd Lyons confirms DHS collects detailed information on individuals, including peaceful protesters, despite previous denials to Congress.
- Civil liberties advocates warn this could lead to unjust consequences for individuals exercising their First Amendment rights, as the agency has labeled some activities as potential criminal actions.
- Multiple lawsuits are underway challenging DHS's surveillance practices, including claims of wrongful data collection and threats against individuals observed during protests.
2 Sources
- ICE denies having a protester database. But a letter to Congress sheds more lightJun 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM · NPR
- ICE denied having a database of protesters it brands ‘domestic terrorists’ — but a letter to Congress suggests otherwiseJun 10, 2026 at 11:51 PM · Independent