US ICE arrested journalist in Nashville with out warrant, her attorneys say

Journalist Estefany Maria Rodriguez Flores is from Colombia, has lived within the US for 5 years, and ‘often studies on tales essential of ICE,’ her attorneys say

WASHINGTON, USA – A reporter working for native information outlet Nashville Noticias was arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Nashville with out a warrant, an emergency petition filed by her attorneys in federal courtroom stated.

Nashville Noticias stated on Thursday, March 5, the journalist, Estefany Maria Rodriguez Flores, was taken to an ICE detention heart and remained in custody. ICE didn’t reply to a request for remark.

Rodriguez Flores is from Colombia, has lived within the US for 5 years, and “often studies on tales essential of ICE,” her attorneys stated in a courtroom submitting within the US District Courtroom for the Center District of Tennessee.

The media outlet stated the reporter was together with her husband exterior a fitness center on Wednesday, March 4, when the automobile they had been in, which was marked with the Nashville Noticias emblem, was surrounded and she or he was detained.

US District Choose Eli Richardson directed federal immigration officers to provide their preliminary response to the emergency petition by Friday, March 6. Rodriguez Flores had a gathering scheduled for March 17 with ICE’s Enforcement and Removing Operations, her attorneys stated.

ICE has been on the coronary heart of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown that rights advocates say violates free speech and due course of rights.

Human rights teams say it has made the surroundings unsafe for residents and immigrants, particularly after two separate January deadly shootings of US residents by federal brokers in Minnesota.

Across the nation, not less than eight individuals have died in ICE detention facilities because the begin of 2026, following not less than 31 deaths final yr.

Trump has stated his insurance policies goal to curb unlawful immigration and enhance home safety.

Rodriguez Flores arrived within the US on a vacationer visa, filed for political asylum, subsequently married a US citizen and has a sound work allow, the submitting stated. She and her husband have filed for permission to regulate her standing to lawful everlasting resident, it added. – Rappler.com