Amnesty International USA demands the immediate release of Estefany Rodríguez, a journalist detained in Nashville, Tennessee by Department of Homeland Security agents reportedly without warrant on March 4 despite being in the United States legally, according to news reports.
“Ms. Rodríguez must be urgently released and returned to her community and journalism work,” said Justin Mazzola, Deputy Director for Research at Amnesty International USA. “The U.S. immigration system must not be weaponized to silence the work of journalists.”
Ms. Rodríguez works for Nashville Noticias and Univision 42 Nashville and covers immigration enforcement as part of her portfolio. She was detained while traveling in her Nashville Noticias-branded vehicle. Originally from Colombia where she received death threats for her reporting work, she is currently seeking asylum in the U.S. According to news reports, after being detained, she was transferred to an ICE processing center in Louisiana last Thursday.
“Ms. Rodríguez’s detention is yet another stark example of the escalating and overlapping attacks on the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and the rights of immigrants in the U.S.,” said Mazzola. “Amnesty International reminds the U.S. government that it is obligated to protect freedom of expression, including freedom of the press. A free press plays a vital role in holding governments and other powerful actors to account. To do this, journalists must be able to report freely and independently without being threatened, intimidated or punished. No one should live in fear of retaliation for their reporting. Through increasing authoritarian practices, President Trump seeks to create this fear and chilling effect. We will never allow this ruthless attack on reporters covering the truth to be normalized.”
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