Venezuelan journalist Luz Mely Reyes relocated to the United States to escape oppressive conditions affecting press freedom in her home country but now self-censors out of fear for her status. Non-citizen journalists increasingly limit their public expressions to avoid repercussions from the Trump administration, which has repressed free speech and immigration rights. High-profile detentions, such as that of Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara during protests, illustrate the dangers faced by journalists. The environment of fear surrounding these issues curtails the ability of journalists to report freely.
As President Donald Trump and his administration have cracked down on immigration and free speech alike, some non-citizen journalists working in the U.S. have started to censor themselves, wiping their social media accounts and avoiding making statements that could be construed as criticism of the administration.
"In my country (Venezuela), I never self-censored. Here, I have to avoid some topics because I feel that it's dangerous for my status," said Reyes, who as a green card holder is a permanent legal resident of the U.S. but not a citizen.
Those journalists' fears are not unfounded. Last month, Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara was arrested by local police while covering anti-Trump protests in Atlanta and then handed over to and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Guevara's detention is illustrative of the Trump administration's tactics. Jacobsen said. "What the Trump administration has done very effectively, creates an environment of fear for journalists, especially those who are non-citizens."
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