蜜桃传媒 criticizes judge鈥檚 denial of bond for journalist whose work challenged ICE
The 蜜桃传媒 criticized an immigration judge鈥檚 decision today to deny bond for Spanish-language journalist Manuel Duran.
The denial means that Duran 鈥� who was unlawfully arrested and detained in retaliation for reporting on controversial issues related to law enforcement in Tennessee 鈥� will remain in detention while lawyers continue to argue his asylum聽case.聽
鈥淭his morning, Manuel Duran was denied bond by an immigration judge in Jena, Louisiana,鈥� said Gracie Willis, staff attorney for the 蜜桃传媒.聽鈥淲hile the judge did not question Mr. Duran鈥檚 deep connection to his community in Memphis, he聽did not believe the immigration laws give him authority to grant a bond.聽We disagree.聽Mr. Duran has already spent nine months in detention.鈥�
顿耻谤补苍听has been detained聽at LaSalle Detention Facility in Jena, Louisiana, after working as a reporter in Memphis, Tennessee, for a decade. The 蜜桃传媒聽took his case聽after he was taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody following his arrest by Memphis police in April 2018.
In November 2018, the 11th聽U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay of removal for Duran.聽Before the stay was granted, Duran could have been deported at any time.
鈥淭he prolonged detention of a journalist who has been granted a stay of removal by a higher court is unjust, unreasonable, and a waste of resources,鈥� Willis said. 鈥淚CE has the discretion to release Manuel, but to date has denied every request. We are heartbroken that Mr. Duran will continue to be separated from his family and community despite his strong claims for asylum.聽This decision further underscores the injustice of our immigration and asylum systems.鈥�
Duran, a respected reporter who wrote for the Spanish-language publication he founded 鈥撀�Memphis Noticias 鈥�聽was known for his investigative journalism. His work frequently highlighted issues of importance to Memphis鈥� Spanish-speaking community, including local law enforcement鈥檚 collaboration with ICE.
On April 3, 2018, Duran was covering a Memphis event relating to the 50th聽anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.鈥檚 assassination. The demonstration included a protest of local law enforcement鈥檚 practice of detaining suspected immigrants and handing them over to ICE.
