Journalist Manuel Duran Detained Over a Year by ICE After Covering Immigration Protest

Salvadoran journalist Manuel Duran spent over 15 months in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after covering an immigration protest in Memphis, Tennessee. His arrest and prolonged detention have sparked concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists reporting on immigration issues.

Duran was arrested in April 2018 during a protest against ICE’s immigration enforcement policies. Although he was initially charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing a highway, those charges were eventually dropped. However, because of a 2007 deportation order from when he was younger, ICE took custody of him immediately after his arrest.

Throughout his detention, Duran was held in several facilities, including the Etowah County Detention Center in Alabama. His case drew attention from civil rights groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center and immigrant advocacy organizations such as Adelante Alabama Worker Center, which campaigned for his release. They argued that his detention was unjust and possibly retaliatory, as Duran had previously reported critically on local law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE.

Duran’s experience highlighted the intersection of immigration enforcement and press freedom, raising alarm about how journalists covering sensitive subjects can face legal and physical risks. It underscored fears that immigration authorities might be targeting journalists to discourage coverage of their actions.

After a lengthy legal battle, Duran was released on bond in July 2019 following a successful habeas corpus petition. In 2022, he was granted asylum in the United States, allowing him to continue his journalistic work legally and safely.

Since then, Duran has remained an outspoken advocate for press freedom and immigrant rights. His story serves as a cautionary example of the challenges journalists face in politically charged environments, especially when reporting on immigration policies and enforcement agencies. It also reflects broader concerns about the use of immigration detention as a tool against vulnerable individuals, including members of the press.