DHS subpoenas REI for two-year customer data on green beanie amid ICE protest case

In March, Homeland Security Investigations agents served a 1509 customs summons on outdoor retailer REI, requesting the identities of every customer in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area who bought a specific dark-green beanie since 2024. The demand is tied to a federal lawsuit targeting 39 individuals—protesters, journalists and former a host at one outlet—who attended an ICE protest at a church where the pastor also served as an acting ICE field office director.

The REI subpoena is among 92 issued to entities ranging from airlines and telecom providers to social-media platforms, some of which allegedly sought future travel alerts on defendants. Critics, including Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Pramila Jayapal, argue the action exceeds the customs statute’s limits and threatens privacy. Companies have responded variably: T-Mobile provided six months of call and text logs, Google refused a request for YouTube data, and Reddit withdrew subpoenas after First Amendment objections. The episode underscores ongoing concerns about DHS’s use of administrative subpoenas to identify critics.