A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to justify the detention of a Nashville-based journalist arrested by immigration officials last week.
Estefany Rodriguez Florez, 35, was taken into custody Wednesday while traveling with her U.S. citizen husband, according to court filings. The Colombia-born reporter works for Nashville Noticias, which covers the Nashville area.
Judge Demands Government Response
Eli Richardson ordered federal officials to provide a written explanation for the arrest this week and indicated a hearing could follow soon.
As of Monday, Rodriguez was being held at a county jail in Gadsden, Alabama, according to immigration records from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Attorneys Claim Retaliation for Journalism
Rodriguez’s lawyers filed an emergency petition seeking her release, arguing she was detained without a proper warrant and that the arrest violated her constitutional rights.
Her legal team also claims the detention was retaliation for coverage critical of immigration enforcement under Donald Trump’s administration.
“Her work as a journalist is central to this,” attorney Mike Holley said, arguing she was vulnerable to retaliation due to her immigration status.
DHS Denies Allegations
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security denied the claims, calling them a “gross smear.” Officials said Rodriguez was detained as part of a targeted immigration enforcement operation.
According to court records, Rodriguez entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2021 and later applied for political asylum due to threats tied to her journalism in Colombia. Her asylum request and application for permanent residency — filed after marrying a U.S. citizen last month — are still pending.
Rodriguez had no prior arrests, and her attorneys dispute the government’s claim that she poses a flight risk.
For more on Trump’s anti-immigration enforcement and its consequences, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.