Journalist covering immigration ripped from family by ICE, but the agency’s alleged reason for it is truly wild
Image by Fibonacci Blue, CC BY 4.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents recently detained Estefany Rodríguez, a Nashville reporter and mother, on March 4. The agency’s reason for her arrest is truly baffling, especially considering her legal efforts to gain citizenship. Rodríguez, a Colombian citizen who sought asylum in the U.S. due to threats related to her reporting on “armed and militant groups” in her home country, has reportedly taken all the necessary legal steps to become a citizen.
According to People, Rodríguez was arrested by immigration agents at around 7:15 AM local time while arriving at the gym with her husband, Alejandro Medina III, who is a U.S. citizen. She’s a dedicated reporter for Nashville Noticias, where she’s been a team member since 2022, covering topics like social, family, health, police, and immigration issues. Her attorney, Joel Coxander, confirmed on March 6 that she was being held in Alabama after leaving Nashville, Tennessee.
ICE claims Rodríguez was a “flight risk” because she missed two interview appointments. However, Coxander explained that ICE’s initial contact with Rodríguez was on January 8, 2026, when they sent her a G-56 letter requesting an appointment for January 26. He described these letters as “invitations” that don’t state legal requirements to attend, often because the recipient has no prior connection to ICE or a USCIS application.
ICE seems to be playing a cat and mouse game with this journalist
Rodríguez was fully prepared to attend that January 26 meeting with her lawyer, but the ICE offices were closed due to severe weather, making it impossible to go. A follow-up appointment was then set for February 25. However, when her husband and one of Coxander’s associates tried to confirm this meeting, they were explicitly told that Rodríguez wasn’t in the ICE system and didn’t have a scheduled appointment.
Despite these clear communications, a third appointment was scheduled for March 17. The wild part is that Rodríguez was arrested before this date, and her legal team was told she hadn’t been in the system because she’d never been involved with ICE previously.
Coxander expressed frustration, saying, “She’s being told, ‘We’re holding it against you that you didn’t do this thing we told you you didn’t have to do.’” He criticized the lack of accountability and added that they’re essentially saying, “Hey, you didn’t show up to this invitation letter, so you’re a full flight risk.”
Her lawyers have already filed an emergency petition to have the arrest reviewed and are also seeking a bond hearing with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Coxander emphasized Rodríguez’s “bravery” in her journalistic coverage of ICE, even knowing the personal risks involved. He also highlighted that she has gone “above and beyond” to confirm her appointments and ensure she was following all legal procedures.
Rodríguez is an “incredible woman who is deeply dedicated to both her work and her family,” according to her husband, who set up a GoFundMe to support her. He noted that she “works tirelessly to inform and serve the community with passion” and is always looking for ways to give back. To him and their 8-year-old daughter, she is “the greatest blessing,” the “loving, attentive,” and “heart of our home.”
Nashville Noticias released a formal statement expressing respect for U.S. laws and hoping for a favorable resolution so Rodríguez can reunite with her family. The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Coalition (TIRRC) also weighed in, stating that “all of us in Tennessee and in America, regardless of your race, your immigration status, or your profession, deserve to be treated fairly by the government.”
Published: Mar 6, 2026 06:45 pm