Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, said the legal battle surrounding Colombian journalist Estefany Rodriguez Flores could come to a swift end if she is released on bond, explaining that her pending federal court challenge may become moot once she leaves custody.
Pappert explained on Wednesday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show that Rodriguez Flores, the Nashville Noticias reporter who entered the U.S. on a tourism visa in 2021, “filed an asylum petition but has remained illegally in the United States ever since,” citing claims from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
He added that she was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 4 “after she allegedly… failed to meet with ICE on two separate occasions,” referencing missed appointments tied in part to Winter Storm Fern and disputed communication with immigration officials.
According to Pappert, a key development in Rodriguez Flores’ case came during a Monday immigration hearing.
“She was granted a $10,000 bond,” he said, though confusion followed regarding whether that bond would be appealed.
“ICE put in a 24-hour hold by notifying the court that they may appeal. No appeal has since been filed,” Pappert reported, noting that federal attorneys indicated the bond could allow for her release.
He continued, “The Trump administration attorney said that the immigration court… bond is now valid. She can pay the bond immediately and leave as of 9:00 AM Tuesday,” adding that it remained unclear at the time of the interview whether Rodriguez Flores (pictured here) had been released.
Pappert also described a separate federal court hearing tied to a habeas corpus petition filed by Rodriguez Flores in Middle Tennessee.
He suggested that her release could render the petition irrelevant, saying, “I think for the most part…the entire complaint would essentially be dismissed except potentially this First Amendment component.”
That constitutional argument, Pappert noted, centers on claims that her arrest violated press freedoms due to her reporting. However, he highlighted skepticism from federal prosecutors, citing legal precedent discussed during the hearing.
“Petitioner… is not a lawful permanent resident,” Pappert said, summarizing the government’s position, adding that “neither history nor precedent indicates that the First Amendment definitively applies to illegal aliens.”
Pappert further argued that the case may ultimately reflect broader issues with legal guidance provided to Rodriguez Flores.
“The moral of the story is yet again, the lawyers may not have given the best advice in January and February,” he said, referring to missed ICE appointments.
Looking ahead, Pappert predicted a swift resolution if Rodriguez Flores secures release.
“I’m guessing it’s going to be a quick phone call in which the judge says, ‘Is she out?’… and the case goes away,” he said, referencing a scheduled status conference.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
