Four protesters are suing DHS and FBI to stop the alleged illegal collection and storage of DNA samples from Americans arrested during peaceful ICE protests. The lawsuit, filed in Illinois, claims the government is violating First and Fourth Amendment rights by creating a permanent DNA database from protesters, most of whom faced no convictions. The case challenges the scope of DNA collection authority under a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that allowed DNA sampling under specific circumstances.
Background
The collection of DNA samples by law enforcement has been a contentious issue, with the Supreme Court ruling in Maryland v. King (2013) that police can take DNA samples from people arrested for serious crimes. However, this case tests the limits of that ruling regarding peaceful protesters.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- May 8, 2026 at 05:35 AM
- Score
- 8.0 / 10