(WASHINGTON) – PEN America expressed alarm today at the ICE detention of Nashville Noticias journalist Estefany Rodríguez in Tennessee. Rodríguez, who has a work permit and an active asylum case, came to the United States legally on a tourist visa from Colombia, where she had received threats for her reporting. She sought safety in the U.S. while continuing her work covering issues of public interest, including immigration enforcement.
“The detention of journalist Estefany Rodríguez by ICE is an alarming threat to press freedom that follows a well-worn path by this administration. Journalists must be able to report freely without fear that their work will expose them to government retaliation,” said Tim Richardson, journalism and disinformation program director at PEN America. “Her detention is part of the administration’s pattern of attempting to silence and intimidate journalists for simply doing their jobs. Authorities should immediately release Rodríguez and clarify the basis for her detention.”
Nashville Noticias said in a statement via the Nashville Banner that Rodríguez had been in a vehicle marked with the Nashville Noticias logo when she was taken into custody.
Her detention comes months after the detention and subsequent deportation of journalist Mario Guevara, which was a chilling example of how immigration enforcement can be used to punish journalists for their work and undermine press freedom.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at PEN.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], 201-247-5057