A Nashville journalist known for her coverage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity across the city has been detained by federal agents. Estefany Rodriguez, who reported for Nashville Noticias and Univision 42 Nashville, was taken into custody Wednesday morning outside a gym on Murfreesboro Pike.
Rodriguez was with her husband, a U.S. citizen, when agents pulled them over. According to her attorney, Rodriguez entered the country legally through a spousal sponsorship and currently has a pending green card application. She also filed for asylum after fleeing Colombia, where her attorney says her life was threatened because of her journalism work covering armed militias.
ICE says Rodriguez missed two scheduled immigration interview dates and, as a result, was considered a flight risk. Her legal team has filed a petition calling for an immediate review of her detention to determine whether it is lawful.
The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition has also filed a separate petition on her behalf, and a bond motion has been submitted to immigration court.
Nashville Noticias addressed the situation in a public statement, expressing respect for U.S. law while urging a favorable resolution so Rodriguez can return to her young daughter and husband. The outlet noted that her legal team at MIRA Legal, along with TIRRC, is actively representing her in the case.
WSMV4 contacted ICE for comment on the arrest and detention but had not received a response by the time of publication.