蜜桃传媒

Update: As of Nov. 15, the 11^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals postponed Manuel Duran鈥檚 removal for two weeks and agreed to consider the 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 argument.

Duran has been detained for over seven months at LaSalle Detention Facility in Jena, Louisiana, after working as a reporter in Memphis, Tennessee, for more than 10 years. The 蜜桃传媒 took his case after he was placed in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody following his arrest by Memphis police.

After months of navigating court proceedings, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) denied Duran鈥檚 appeal on Oct. 17 to reopen his removal proceedings. The 蜜桃传媒, on Duran鈥檚 behalf, is currently seeking a review of the BIA鈥檚 decision at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Deportation, however, could come at any time.聽

鈥淢anuel Duran is a journalist who was simply doing his job 鈥� reporting on the Memphis Police and ICE 鈥� when he was unlawfully arrested and summarily sent to a remote ICE detention center in retaliation for him exposing the truth,鈥� said Michelle Lapointe, senior supervising attorney with the 蜜桃传媒. 鈥淢anuel鈥檚 case is part of a disturbing pattern where ICE retaliates against those who report on and speak out about its policies and practices.鈥澛�

Duran was a respected reporter, writing for the Spanish-language publication he founded, Memphis Noticias. He was known for his investigative journalism that frequently highlighted issues of importance to Memphis鈥� Spanish-speaking community, including local law enforcement鈥檚 collaboration with ICE.

But now he is locked up.

鈥楪et him, guys鈥�

On April 3, Duran was covering a Memphis event relating to the 50^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King鈥檚 assassination. The demonstration included a protest of local law enforcement detaining suspected immigrants and handing them over to ICE.

During the event, Duran wore his yellow press badge and did not engage in the protest. He was following police orders to step away from the protesters when an officer pointed to him and yelled, 鈥淕et him, guys.鈥�

Because his writing exposed ties between local police and ICE in detaining immigrants, Duran was singled out and arrested amid a pool of other journalists and falsely accused for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.

In handcuffs, Duran was taken to the Shelby County Sheriff鈥檚 Office, where his bond was paid immediately and the charges against him were later dropped. The county, however, decided against releasing him. Instead, he was held for ICE.聽

Two days later, ICE transported Duran to Jena, Louisiana.

鈥淗is arrest and detainment only show how the government has misplaced priorities,鈥� said Melisa Valdez, Duran鈥檚 longtime girlfriend. 鈥淚 find it extremely unfair that someone can be jailed indefinitely without having committed a crime, and I don鈥檛 see a reason why they would need to keep Manuel in a cage other than just plain malice.鈥澛�

鈥淭hese past seven months have not been easy,鈥� Duran said. 鈥淚n these prisons, we are not treated as if we were human beings. We are treated like animals. They treat us like another number. We have at this moment too many corporations and millionaires investing in prisons, because they know that鈥檚 where the money is, and the inhumane treatment given to detainees doesn鈥檛 matter.鈥�

Duran is like thousands of other undocumented immigrants facing deportation. Held captive in a crowded room, the cruel treatment they endure is often too much to bear.聽 聽

鈥淚t is exploitation,鈥� Duran said. 鈥淲hen they took me to Louisiana, they treated me like a criminal. I was chained up. There are people here who have legal status, but because of a slight error, they have to go in front of an immigration judge. People here are suffering because they鈥檝e gotten a traffic ticket. We鈥檙e not criminals.鈥�

Despite arguments that confirm the conditions in Central America have materially worsened over the last decade 鈥� especially for anti-corruption journalists like Duran 鈥� Duran鈥檚 future appears bleak. Valdez finds it hard to articulate how defeated it feels to know the country has turned its back against Duran and her.