Free Press Welcomes the Release of Estefany Rodríguez, Journalist Detained by ICE After She Reported on Its Activities

WASHINGTON — On Thursday evening, reporter Estefany Rodríguez walked free from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after spending more than two weeks behind bars. Rodríguez was released on a $10,000 bond, following a hearing earlier in the week. 

When ICE arrested the Colombian-born reporter on March 4, it failed to produce a warrant. She had been in ICE custody under deplorable conditions, despite being in the United States legally. At the time of her detention, Rodríguez had an open asylum case and a pending green card application through her husband, who is a U.S. citizen. 

“Free Press welcomes news of Estefany Rodríguez’s release and is happy to report that she is now safe with her family,” said Nora Benavidez, Free Press senior counsel. “While this is a victory for Rodríguez, her free speech rights and the communities she reports for, the fight is not over. We remain troubled by the federal government’s ongoing campaign to silence and deport reporters who cover the administration’s gross mistreatment of immigrants. We will continue to fight for Rodríguez and her right to report free from retaliation while we challenge the federal government’s relentless assaults on the First Amendment across this country.”

Rodríguez had fled to the United States in 2021 after facing threats for her coverage of Colombia’s armed militia groups. Since arriving, Rodríguez has covered immigration issues, including ICE actions, for the local Spanish-language news site Nashville Noticias. 

Free Press helped mobilize a coalition of press-freedom groups to oppose the arrest and detention of Estefany Rodríguez this month. Months earlier, Free Press and a similar coalition challenged the targeting and deportation of Mario Guevara, an Emmy-winning, Spanish-language reporter who also covered immigration. Guevara was arrested on June 14 after livestreaming an Atlanta metro area #NoKings protest against Trump administration policies. After he was held in custody for more than 100 days, the federal government deported Guevara to El Salvador, arguing without legal merit that it had detained him on grounds that his filming of law enforcement activities created a risk to public safety.

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