Two reporters for The New York Times have sued the Department of Homeland Security after they were questioned at a New York airport as they headed to overseas assignments.

The Freedom of Information Act lawsuit was filed Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan. Writers Mac William Bishop and Christopher Chivers said in the lawsuit that employees of the department responsible for securing U.S. borders subjected them to questioning last May as they prepared to board an international flight.

A Times attorney said they were taking a flight to Turkey to report on the war in Syria. The lawsuit said Bishop was again questioned as he returned weeks later.

The lawsuit said the government did not adequately respond to FOIA requests on information related to the questioning. The government declined comment.

(AP)