NASHVILLE, Tennessee — U.S. immigration authorities have detained a Spanish-language news reporter in Tennessee following a traffic stop, according to court filings and officials.
Reporting from the Associated Press states that Estefany Rodriguez Florez, a Colombian citizen and reporter for Nashville Noticias, was arrested Wednesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Rodriguez’s attorney said she was not shown an arrest warrant at the time of the detention. Court documents filed on her behalf request her immediate release. Her lawyer stated that Rodriguez entered the United States legally, holds a valid work permit and has applied for asylum and permanent status through her U.S. citizen husband.
ICE officials said an arrest warrant had been issued earlier in the week and that Rodriguez’s visa had expired. The agency said the arrest occurred during a “targeted enforcement operation” and that she will remain in custody while the case proceeds.
Rodriguez joined Nashville Noticias in 2022 and has reported on immigration, policing and community issues. Advocacy groups for journalists have criticized the arrest and called for her release.
Sources
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