Congressman Cohen Welcomes Reasonable Immigration Treatment, and Political Asylum, for Memphis Noticias Reporter Manuel Duran

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, tonight applauded the ruling of a Memphis Immigration Court judge to advance the claim of Memphis Noticias reporter Manuel Duran for political asylum.

Mr. Duran, a native of El Salvador, was arrested while working as a journalist covering a protest regarding immigration and was jailed in immigration custody for 465 days. Mr. Duran made the case that he could not safely return to his country.

Congressman Cohen, whose office was in contact with Mr. Duran and the relevant government officials from the time of Mr. Duran's arrest, made the following statement:

"I am pleased Manuel Duran won his asylum case. The First Amendment protects journalists and Mr. Duran was well within his rights conducting lawful reporting when he was arrested. He obviously has a reasonable fear for his safety were he returned to his native El Salvador. I am pleased by the court's decision and commend Mr. Duran's commitment to the principles of a free press and to the work of the lawyers from the Southern Poverty Law Center and Advocates for Immigration Rights that led to this vindication."

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