SYRACUSE — Federal agents confronted Paigelynne Gonyea at a polling place in Syracuse, New York, on June 23, 2026, regarding an Instagram post she made in January. The interaction concerned a post about an ICE agent involved in a fatal shooting, with agents presenting her a warning notice and leaving a voicemail referencing her account.

Earlier on June 23, Gonyea received a voicemail from a caller identifying himself as a Homeland Security special agent. She said the agents arrived at the Central Library in Syracuse, where she was working at a polling site. She stated that the agents confirmed the post in question was about Jonathan Ross, an ICE agent who fatally shot Renée Macklin Good in Minnesota, and that they had a file about her containing personal details.

Gonyea posted a photo of agent Jonathan Ross on her Instagram account in January. In the caption, she wrote, "I think today is a great day for Jonathan to be indicted." Agent Jonathan Ross has not been indicted for his role in the death of Renée Macklin Good. Gonyea denied that she had doxxed an ICE agent.

She said the agents asked her to sign a document claiming her Instagram account might have violated a federal law concerning threats or intimidation of a federal officer. The notice from ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility stated, "YOU MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW." It requested, "OPR is requesting that you promptly remove and/or discontinue the aforementioned behavior." Gonyea did not sign the document, nor did she delete any of her posts. She later posted the document, the voicemail, and a video of the incident to her Instagram account.

Regarding her posts, Gonyea said, "I didn't say anything that would incite violence or cause anyone to want to go out of their way to go harm an ICE agent, or their family, or anything like that." She also stated, "What I said was within the confines of free speech."

Kevin Ryan, the Republican county election commissioner, confirmed through a DHS contact that those with badges were agents. Ryan said it was "a mistake" for the agents to enter the polling place. He also described the entire incident as "a comedy of errors from beginning to end."

Perry Grossman, a representative with the New York Civil Liberties Union, commented on the situation. "If this is the kind of speech that the administration, that DHS wants to go after, then they are trying to fundamentally redefine the First Amendment and the scope of permissible public debate," Grossman said. He added, "And that is wrong. That is ridiculous."

Why It Matters

This incident involves federal agents confronting an individual over social media posts made several months prior, occurring at a polling place in Syracuse, New York. The engagement involved questions regarding free speech and the actions of federal agencies, particularly given that the individual did not sign the document presented by the agents and did not remove her posts.

The encounter at a polling site prompted criticism from local election officials and civil liberties advocates. The New York Civil Liberties Union representative suggested the administration might be attempting to redefine the scope of the First Amendment if such speech is targeted.