A poll worker in Syracuse, New York, was confronted by two federal officers at a polling site during the state’s primary elections over a social media post she made earlier this year. Paigelynne Gonyea said the officers delivered a written notice alleging she may have violated federal laws by publicly sharing personal information about a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.
The confrontation occurred on Tuesday while Gonyea was working at the polling location. According to Gonyea, the notice was related to a January social media post in which she shared a photograph of Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer involved in the fatal shooting of Renee Good during protests in Minneapolis, accompanied by a message calling for Ross to be indicted. The post had appeared after Ross’s identity became public through media outlets. Gonyea said she does not plan to remove the post and intends to use the incident to highlight First Amendment rights.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) characterized Gonyea’s post as illegal “doxxing,” accusing her of posting the ICE officer’s address online. DHS spokesperson Lauren Bis stated that such actions endanger law enforcement officers and their families and asserted that federal authorities will investigate and pursue legal action against those who reveal personal information of officers. Bis cited another social media post from one of Gonyea’s accounts that allegedly included Ross’s address, though part of that post was redacted in the statement.
A fellow poll worker, Sheilia Milledge, recorded the incident on her phone, capturing two uniformed federal officers entering the polling site to speak with Gonyea, who declined to sign the warning letter presented to her. Gonyea later shared the unsigned letter on social media. The letter was reportedly from ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility, which investigates misconduct allegations within the agency. Milledge said poll workers were unsettled by the encounter, though Gonyea noted that no voters were present during the confrontation.
The New York Attorney General’s Office stated it is aware of the situation and is reviewing it, while the Governor’s office reported no knowledge of similar incidents elsewhere in the state. Kathleen McGrath, spokesperson for the New York State Board of Elections, said the event “did not disrupt voting and was not related to the election process.” Onondaga County Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny confirmed that he responded to the polling place promptly, ensured voting continued uninterrupted, and connected Gonyea with support resources.
Gonyea also revealed she initially missed a call from DHS officials seeking to discuss the post. A voicemail left by a DHS agent indicated the call was “in reference to a post” believed to have doxxed the ICE officer and assured her that she was “not in any type of trouble.” Gonyea said she opted to meet the officers at the polling site, citing safety concerns.
Voting rights advocates expressed concern that the officers’ presence at a polling place could be seen as intimidating. Sean Morales-Doyle, director of the voting rights and elections program at the Brennan Center for Justice, described the timing and location as incidental but acknowledged potential chilling effects on voters and poll workers. Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, warned that formal complaints against protected speech could have troubling implications.