Journalist detained in Houston released pending hearing
| NMU | TEXAS | Newsgathering | Dec 17, 2002 |
Journalist detained in Houston released pending hearing
- A journalists working for two New York-based Spanish-language publications was released after being held for 10 days in a Houston INS facility.
After spending 10 days in an detention facility, journalist Roger Calero was released Dec. 13, leaving his case pending before an immigration judge in Houston.
Calero was stopped at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston by Immigration and Naturalization Service officials on his way back into the Unites States from assignments in Cuba and Mexico. He was detained in an INS facilities and his press credentials, digital camera and laptop computer were seized by INS officials. The basis for his detention was a 14-year-old marijuana charge.
Calero is associate editor of the monthly Spanish-language news publication, Perspectiva Mundial, and staff writer for the labor-oriented newsweekly, the Militant. Both publications operate out of New York City.
With his computer and camera back in his possession, Calero continues to travel and report from within the United States. He also is actively speaking publicly about and working on his case pending before the immigration court.
Calero originally was scheduled for a hearing Dec. 17. The hearing was cancelled and another hearing has not been set.
A widespread campaign for Calero’s release was waged by his colleagues and advocates. They held a gathering in New York City Dec. 15 to celebrate their success and plan the next phase of Calero’s defense.
(Media counsel: Martha Garza, Houston; Claudia Slovinsky, New York) — RA
Related stories:
- Detained journalist awaits INS exclusion hearing (12/13/2002)
© 2002 The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
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