From WHSV: Estefany Rodriguez, a reporter for Nashville Noticias and Univision 42 Nashville, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents outside of a gym Wednesday morning.
Rodriguez had been covering ICE activity throughout the city before being detained.
Officials said Rodriguez is an illegal alien from Colombia and was arrested during a targeted enforcement operation.
According to ICE, Rodriguez entered the country with a tourist visa on March 10, 2021, which was valid until March 23, 2021.
Officials said Rodriguez is in violation of the conditions of her visa and currently has no lawful immigration status while failing to show up to two immigration interview dates, making her a flight risk.
The report explains that Rodriguez is married to a U.S. citizen. Her attorney claims she was sponsored by her husband and has a pending green card application. The attorney said Rodriguez has also filed for asylum, claiming her life was threatened in Colombia.
Democrat Rep. Joaquin Castro (Tex.), who supports open borders, reacted in fury over the illegal alien reporter’s arrest.
“ICE arrested a journalist yesterday without a warrant. She is an asylum seeker, has valid work permits, and is married to a U.S. citizen. Her detention exposes the Trump Admin’s machine of cruelty that is attacking the free press and violating our rights. This lawlessness and cruelty must end,” he fumed.
The Department of Homeland Security fired back, writing, “THIS IS FALSE. Here’s the warrant. It’s embarrassing when sanctuary politicians fall for these obvious hoaxes peddled by the media. We look forward to you correcting the record. Next time ask us and we will get you the facts.”
THIS IS FALSE.
Here’s the warrant.
It’s embarrassing when sanctuary politicians fall for these obvious hoaxes peddled by the media. We look forward to you correcting the record.
Next time ask us and we will get you the facts. pic.twitter.com/DSCdbY7wdP
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) March 7, 2026
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin shared more details:
Hearing from federal sources that she is in the US illegally as a visa overstay as she entered on a tourist visa in 2021 but violated the terms of it by never leaving. Complicated case though, as she later applied for asylum and Biden admin gave her a work permit/EAD (which isn’t legal status). But it’s one of those cases where someone has permission from the federal government to work in the US but has no lawful status in the US at the same time (yes, both those things can be true)… Immigration law will make your head spin.
Given apparent lack of criminal history, I would expect ICE to serve her a NTA and release her or a federal judge will likely order her released while her case plays out in court.
Given apparent lack of criminal history, I would expect ICE to serve her a NTA and release her or a federal judge will likely order her released while her case plays out in court.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 6, 2026
Meanwhile, Castro fired back at DHS:
“We look forward to you correcting the record.”
Okay, sure: I’ve looked at the records that you’ve filed. The warrant below is what you served Estefany Rodríguez. It’s not a judicial warrant and it’s not even filled out properly, making this an egregious violation of her fourth amendment right.
You illegally detained a journalist and lied about it. You killed 3 Americans and lied about it. Detained American citizens and lied about it. Gave away hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars to Noem’s friends and lied about.
Sorry, no more “Trust me, Bro.”
Melugin blasted Castro, and gave him an education on warrants:
Doesn’t matter if it’s not a judicial warrant. Judicial warrants aren’t required. Never have been. Administrative warrants have been accepted and enforced under administrations going back decades.
Politicians who think ICE needs a judicial warrant to arrest an alien are wrong.
SCOTUS case Abel vs United States in 1960 reaffirmed and upheld the propriety of administrative warrants for making arrests.
SCOTUS case Abel vs United States in 1960 reaffirmed and upheld the propriety of administrative warrants for making arrests.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 8, 2026
X user Scott Brown asked the artificial intelligence tool, Grok, “Do immigration removals or detainments require judicial warrants?”
Grok replied:
No, U.S. immigration removals and detentions are civil (not criminal) matters. ICE/DHS uses administrative warrants—Forms I-200 (arrest) and I-205 (removal/deportation)—issued by immigration officers under 8 U.S.C. § 1226 and 8 CFR 287.5. These do not require review or signature by a judge or magistrate.
A final removal order from an immigration judge (executive branch) is typically needed before deportation, but enforcement relies on the admin warrant. Recent DHS policy allows home entry with I-205 for those with final orders. Judicial warrants apply only to criminal immigration violations.
No, U.S. immigration removals and detentions are civil (not criminal) matters. ICE/DHS uses administrative warrants—Forms I-200 (arrest) and I-205 (removal/deportation)—issued by immigration officers under 8 U.S.C. § 1226 and 8 CFR 287.5. These do not require review or signature…
— Grok (@grok) March 8, 2026
Nashville journalist Estefany Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Colombia, is now locked up in ICE detention.
She snuck in on a tourist visa in 2021, claimed asylum, then blew off multiple required ICE check-ins.
She routinely trashes ICE in her reporting on immigration cases for… pic.twitter.com/MLBPqqV1Yh— Arkadalo ® (@Arkadalo) March 6, 2026
Democrat Rep. Delia Rameriz (Ill.) is also fuming over the illegal alien reporter’s arrest.
“Estefany Maria Rodriguez Flores, a journalist from Nashville, was unlawfully arrested by ICE without a warrant. She must be released,” Rameriz demanded.
“ICE’s terror did not start with Noem and won’t end now that she is gone. The whole agency continues to act with impunity, attacking the press, and silencing dissent. We must MELT ICE and dismantle DHS,” she added.
Estefany Maria Rodriguez Flores, a journalist from Nashville, was unlawfully arrested by ICE without a warrant. She must be released.
ICE’s terror did not start with Noem and won’t end now that she is gone. The whole agency continues to act with impunity, attacking the press,… https://t.co/PMswT90pQR
— Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (@repdeliaramirez) March 6, 2026
The reporter’s husband, ALEJANDRO MEDINA, set up a GoFundMe account, begging for money.
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