New York poll worker confronted by ICE speaks out: ‘I'm even worried more about November’

Key Points:

• Paigelynne Gonyea, a Syracuse poll worker, was confronted by two ICE agents at her polling site during New York’s primary election over a six-month-old Instagram post criticizing an ICE agent involved in a fatal shooting, raising concerns about free speech violations and intimidation tactics.
• The agents pressured Gonyea to sign a form agreeing to remove her Instagram account, accusing her of doxxing the ICE agent despite the agent’s name being publicly known, and threatened prosecution if she did not comply.
• Gonyea and voting rights advocates condemned the ICE visit as intimidation, especially since federal laws prohibit armed agents at polling sites, and noted the incident occurred amid calls by President Trump and right-wing extremists to deploy ICE and military personnel at elections.
• U.S. Rep. John W. Mannion has demanded an explanation from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, questioning the legality and motives behind ICE’s actions and seeking details on similar incidents and social media monitoring by ICE.
• Gonyea emphasized the need for poll worker safety and expressed concern about future intimidation, particularly ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.