ICE subpoenas REI for green beanie purchase records tied to Minnesota church protest

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has issued a subpoena to a major outdoor retailer in a bid to identify individuals who participated in a protest that entered a Minnesota church in March. The request is part of a broader “dragnet” effort to collect information on all participants, according to statements from the agency. The retailer, which sells a wide range of outdoor gear and apparel, is being asked to provide customer data that could link shoppers to the protest.

The March protest, which drew national attention, involved a group of demonstrators who entered the church to voice opposition to a local policy. HSI’s investigation seeks to determine the identities of all individuals involved, citing concerns about potential criminal activity. Critics argue that the subpoena oversteps privacy boundaries and could chill free expression, while HSI maintains that the data is necessary for law‑enforcement purposes. The retailer has not yet responded publicly to the request.

The subpoena has sparked debate over the balance between public safety and individual privacy. If the retailer complies, it will provide HSI with purchase records, membership information, and other customer data that may help authorities track protest participants. The outcome of this request could set a precedent for how private companies handle law‑enforcement inquiries in politically sensitive cases.