NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A federal judge has ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide a written justification for the arrest and detention of a Nashville journalist, setting a noon Monday deadline for the agency to respond.
Estefany Maria Rodríguez Florez, a reporter for the Spanish-language outlet Nashville Noticias, was detained March 4 while riding in a vehicle marked with the organization’s logo. Rodríguez had recently reported on immigration enforcement actions in Nashville.
Her attorneys argue the arrest may have been retaliatory and violated First Amendment protections because of her reporting on ICE operations. Federal officials say Rodríguez overstayed a visa, though her attorneys dispute the claim and say she has a valid work permit through 2029 while seeking legal residency.
Court filings show ICE conducted a targeted surveillance operation before stopping the vehicle carrying Rodríguez and her husband. Attorneys also questioned the validity of an administrative warrant presented by federal officials, saying it appeared incomplete and was not properly served.
Rodríguez, a Colombian national who previously sought asylum after receiving threats in her home country, was transferred to a detention center in Louisiana following her arrest.
Sources
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
