DOJ Seeks Reddit & X User Data on ICE Critics | Justice Department Issues Subpoenas
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US Justice Department Seeks Identities of Reddit and X Users Critical of ICE
WASHINGTON — May 29, 2026
The U.S. Justice Department has issued grand jury subpoenas to Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) demanding the names, addresses, and banking information of at least two anonymous users who posted critically about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
According to Bloomberg, the subpoenas were sent by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia under Jeanine Pirro. They are part of criminal investigations into individuals who have criticized government deportation efforts and ICE tactics online.
What the DOJ Is Requesting
The subpoenas seek detailed personal information, including:
Full legal names
Physical addresses
Banking and financial records
The requests were made through grand jury subpoenas, a powerful investigative tool that carries legal weight and can be difficult to challenge. Reddit and X notified the affected users, giving them a short window to fight the demands in court before any data is handed over.
Attorneys representing the users have already moved to quash the subpoenas, arguing that the government has not shown sufficient cause to unmask anonymous speakers.
This development comes as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement and faces growing online criticism of ICE operations. The subpoenas appear to target users who posted anonymously about ICE tactics, raising questions about whether the investigations involve allegations of threats, interference with law enforcement, or other potential crimes.
Jeanine Pirro, a longtime Trump ally and former Fox News host, was appointed U.S. Attorney for D.C. and has overseen several high-profile cases involving alleged threats against officials.This is not the first time federal authorities have sought to identify online critics of immigration enforcement. However, the direct request for banking information alongside names and addresses marks a notable escalation in the scope of data being sought.
Civil liberties advocates are likely to view the subpoenas as a potential threat to anonymous speech online. The First Amendment generally protects the right to speak anonymously, and courts have historically required the government to meet a high bar before forcing platforms to reveal user identities.
The affected users have hired lawyers and are actively challenging the subpoenas in sealed court proceedings. It is not yet clear what specific criminal offenses the Justice Department is investigating.
Legal experts note that while grand jury subpoenas are common in criminal investigations, using them to identify critics of government policy could have a chilling effect on online discourse, particularly around contentious issues like immigration.
A federal judge is currently weighing whether to uphold or block the subpoenas.
Reddit and X are required to comply unless the users successfully challenge the requests.
It remains unclear whether additional subpoenas have been issued to other users or platforms.
The Justice Department has not issued a public statement on these specific subpoenas.This story is developing rapidly. The outcome of the legal challenges could set an important precedent regarding the government’s ability to unmask anonymous online critics.
DOJ Seeks Reddit & X User Data on ICE Critics | Justice Department Issues Subpoenas
The U.S. Justice Department has issued grand jury subpoenas to Reddit and X seeking the names, addresses, and banking information of users critical of ICE operations. The users are challenging the requests in court.
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