Overview
- Estefany María Rodríguez Florez remains in ICE custody in Alabama with a planned transfer to Louisiana, with a bond hearing set for March 16 and a federal habeas hearing set for March 17.
- U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson ordered DHS to show cause for the detention by March 12 after attorneys amended their petition to add First and Fifth Amendment claims.
- Rodríguez’s lawyers say she was not shown a warrant at arrest and note discrepancies between a crumpled March 2 administrative warrant filed in court and a different March 4 warrant DHS posted on X.
- ICE records describe a targeted early‑morning surveillance operation that stopped Rodríguez after her child was dropped off, as she rode in a vehicle marked with her outlet’s logo.
- DHS says she overstayed a visa and lacks lawful status, while press‑freedom and human‑rights groups led by CPJ and Free Press have publicly urged her immediate release.