ICE arrested Nashville journalist without warrant, attorneys say
ICE arrested Nashville journalist without warrant, attorneys say
Evan Mealins and Angele Latham, Nashville TennesseanFri, March 6, 2026 at 2:22 PM UTC
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Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents arrested a journalist working for local news outlet Nashville Noticias without an arrest warrant during a March 4 traffic stop in South Nashville, according to an emergency petition filed by her attorneys in federal court.
The journalist, Estefany Maria Rodriguez Flores, was taken to an ICE detention center and remains in custody as of 3 p.m. March 5, according to a statement from Nashville Noticias posted to social media.
Rodriguez had a meeting scheduled for March 17 with ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations. She frequently reported on stories critical of ICE for Nashville Noticias, the Spanish-language outlet.
Immigration coverage: ICE is paying 'eye-popping' prices for warehouse detention centers
Nashville Noticias said in its statement on social media that it "hopes that this situation will be resolved favorably for our colleague so that she can be released soon, as she needs to reunite with her young daughter and husband to continue her legal process with the framework permitted by law."
"We trust in the justice system of the United States of America," Nashville Noticias said in the statement.
ICE and Department of Homeland Security officers walks ahead of a bus at the DHS field office in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, May 4, 2025.
Rodriguez's attorneys are asking a judge to order immigration authorities to release her and declare her detention unlawful.
Rodriguez entered the country legally in March 2021 under a tourist visa. She has a valid work permit, is married to a U.S. citizen, and has green card and asylum applications pending, according to the petition filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. She "has followed ICE’s express directions at all times," the petition states. It adds that Rodriguez received a letter in January asking her to come to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operation's field office in Nashville on Jan. 26. The office closed that day because of Winter Storm Fern, which covered Nashville in ice.
A second letter, dated Feb. 10, asked Rodriguez to appear at the office Feb. 25.
Rodriguez's husband and attorney appeared at the office Feb. 23 to ask if it would rather send a notice to appear than hold a meeting, the petition says. A notice to appear is a formal document that indicates the government is beginning removal proceedings against someone.
An ICE agent at the office told Rodriguez's attorney and husband he could not find her in the agency's computer system for appointments. An agent then said Rodriguez should appear on a different date. This agent handed her attorney a piece of paper saying Rodriguez should appear March 17, the petition says.
Rodriguez was detained the morning of March 4 outside a gym on Murfreesboro Pike. She was with her husband traveling in a car with the Nashville Noticias logo on its outside.
According to the petition, Rodriguez said she was shown a notice to appear charging paper but was not shown an arrest warrant. Her attorney, Joel Coxander of Mira Legal, spoke to an ICE agent who indicated there was no active arrest warrant for her at the time of her arrest, the petition states.
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The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, whose attorneys are also representing Rodriguez, said it stands with Rodriguez. TIRRC in a statement called for the end of the “aggressive deployment of immigration agents in our neighborhoods and community.” South Nashville and Antioch were the site of a widespread immigration enforcement crackdown last May by ICE agents and Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers.
ICE did not immediately return a request for comment.
U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson gave ICE ERO, the Department of Homeland Security and the named officials in the lawsuit until noon March 6 to respond. Richardson wrote he "understands the desire to expedite briefing on this particular matter."
Arrest marks second time Hispanic reporter targeted in Tennessee
Rodriguez is the second reporter from a Spanish news network in Tennessee to be arrested and detained by ICE.
More: Who is Manuel Duran? A look at the arrested Memphis-based reporter facing deportation
In 2018, Memphis Noticias founder Manuel Duran was arrested while reporting on an immigration protest.
According to previous reporting by the Commercial Appeal, he was the only journalist arrested in front of a Memphis criminal justice center the day of the protest, even as other journalists were documenting the melee in the street.
While charges against him were quickly dropped, ICE arrested Duran shortly thereafter, citing a missed immigration hearing in 2007.
Radio host Manuel Duran is arrested with other protesters with Coalition For Concerned Citizens of Memphis, Comunidades Unidas en Una Voz and Fight for 15 clash with Memphis Police outside the Shelby County Justice Center during a demonstration to call attention to immigration issues Tuesday, April 3, 2018, in Memphis, Tenn. At least eight demonstrators were arrested during the protest.
His arrest led to more than 465 days behind bars and sparked international attention, lawsuits and protests in Memphis.
In 2019, an immigration judge ordered that Duran could be set free on bond while his asylum case was pending.
In 2022, that asylum was granted, and Duran continues his work in Memphis.
Nashville Noticias Habeas Petition by USA TODAY Network
Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas at emealins@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: ICE arrested Nashville journalist without warrant, attorneys say
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