Nashville journalist arrested by ICE without warrant, lawyers claim

Estefany Maria Rodriguez Flores, a journalist for Nashville Noticias, was detained by ICE agents on March 4 during a traffic stop in South Nashville. Her lawyers claim ICE did not provide a formal arrest warrant at the time. Rodriguez remains in detention, with legal actions underway to challenge her detention.

Estefany Maria Rodriguez Flores, a journalist working for the Spanish-language news outlet Nashville Noticias, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 4 during a traffic stop in South Nashville. According to her attorneys, ICE did not present a formal arrest warrant at the time of the detention. This situation was detailed in an emergency petition filed in federal court on behalf of Rodriguez.

Current Detention Status

As of 3 p.m. on March 5, Rodriguez remains in an ICE detention facility, according to a statement issued by Nashville Noticias on social media. She had an upcoming appointment with ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) scheduled for March 17. Rodriguez has reported critically on ICE activities as part of her work for the news organization.

Personal and Professional Background

Rodriguez legally entered the United States in March 2021 on a tourist visa and currently holds a valid work permit. She is married to a U.S. citizen and has pending applications for a green card and asylum. Her attorneys state that she has consistently complied with all ICE instructions. She received a letter in January requiring her to appear at the Nashville ICE ERO office on January 26, but the office was closed due to Winter Storm Fern. A subsequent notice dated February 10 rescheduled the appointment for February 25. On February 23, her attorney and husband visited the office to clarify the process, during which an ICE agent noted that Rodriguez could not be found in the appointment system and instructed her to appear on March 17.

Details of Arrest

Rodriguez was taken into custody on the morning of March 4 outside a gym on Murfreesboro Pike while traveling with her husband in a vehicle displaying the Nashville Noticias logo. The legal petition indicates that she was shown a notice to appear but was not presented with an arrest warrant. Joel Coxander, her attorney from Mira Legal, confirmed that ICE agents explicitly stated there was no active arrest warrant at the time of detention.

Legal Actions and Advocacy

Her attorneys have filed a petition asking a federal judge to order Rodriguez's release and declare her detention unlawful. The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), also representing Rodriguez, expressed support for her and criticized aggressive local immigration enforcement practices. Last May, South Nashville and Antioch were the sites of a significant ICE operation conducted with Tennessee Highway Patrol officers. U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson has set a deadline for ICE ERO, the Department of Homeland Security, and named officials to respond to the petition by noon on March 6, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.

Historical Context

Rodriguez is the second journalist from a Spanish-language outlet in Tennessee to be detained by ICE. In 2018, Manuel Duran, founder of Memphis Noticias, was arrested while covering an immigration protest outside the Shelby County Justice Center. Although initial charges were quickly dropped, ICE later cited a missed 2007 immigration hearing to detain Duran. He remained in custody for over 465 days, drawing national attention, legal challenges, and public protests. Duran was released on bond in 2019, and his asylum application was approved in 2022.

Statements from Nashville Noticias

Nashville Noticias stated on social media that it hopes for Rodriguez's prompt release so she can reunite with her young daughter and husband and continue her legal proceedings in accordance with U.S. law. The outlet reaffirmed its confidence in the American justice system and stressed the importance of proper due process in immigration enforcement.

ICE and DHS Response

ICE has not issued a comment regarding Rodriguez’s arrest. The case is currently under federal court review, highlighting ongoing concerns about enforcement procedures, the protection of due process, and the treatment of journalists reporting on immigration issues.

Sources:

• Reuters: US ICE arrested journalist in Nashville without arrest warrant, her lawyers say
• Fine Day Radio: Nashville Journalist Detained by ICE Without Warrant, Attorneys Claim
• Times Union/AP: US immigration authorities arrest Spanish-language news reporter in Tennessee
• ICE arrested Nashville journalist without warrant, attorneys say