U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

Incident Database

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80 incidents recorded

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Incident
Incident Details
Category Details

Al Jazeera journalist stopped and questioned in Los Angeles airport

Incident Details

Date of Incident
May 27, 2017
Location
Los Angeles, California
Targets
Ali Latifi (Al Jazeera)

Border Stop

Border Point →
Los Angeles International Airport
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
Yes
Asked for device access? →
Yes
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

BBC journalist questioned by US border agents, devices searched

Incident Details

Date of Incident
May 18, 2017
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Targets
Ali Hamedani (BBC News)

Border Stop

Border Point →
O'Hare International Airport
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. non-resident
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
No
Asked for device access? →
Yes
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
Unknown
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

Journalist, graduate student stopped for secondary screening, electronic devices searched

Incident Details

Updated On
June 28, 2021
Date of Incident
March 5, 2017
Location
Toronto, Canada
Case number
1:17-cv-11730
Targets
Zainab Merchant (Independent)
Case Status
Dismissed
Type of case
Civil

Border Stop

Border Point →
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
Yes
Asked for device access? →
Yes
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

Journalist Tracie Williams arrested at Standing Rock

Incident Details

Updated On
July 11, 2018
Date of Incident
February 23, 2017
Location
Morton County, North Dakota
Targets
Tracie Williams (Independent)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Morton County Sheriff's Department
Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

Filmmaker Jahnny Lee charged with obstruction at Standing Rock

Incident Details

Updated On
April 27, 2018
Date of Incident
February 22, 2017
Location
Morton County, North Dakota
Targets
Jahnny Lee (Sundance Institute)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Morton County Sheriff's Department
Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

Reporter Jack Smith IV charged with obstruction at Standing Rock

Incident Details

Updated On
February 1, 2018
Date of Incident
February 22, 2017
Location
Morton County, North Dakota
Targets
Jack Smith IV (Mic)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Morton County Sheriff's Department
Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

Equipment Damage

Equipment Broken →
Actor →
Law enforcement

Journalist Tonita Cervantes arrested at Standing Rock

Incident Details

Updated On
March 1, 2024
Date of Incident
February 22, 2017
Location
Morton County, North Dakota
Case number
1:22-cv-00211
Targets
Tonita Cervantes (Freelance)
Case Status
Dismissed
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Morton County Sheriff's Department
Charges →
Detention Date →
Release Date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
Yes

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

Vocativ journalist charged with rioting in Washington, D.C.

Incident Details

Updated On
September 17, 2021
Date of Incident
January 20, 2017
Location
Washington, District of Columbia
Targets
Evan Engel (Vocativ)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Metropolitan Police Department
Charges →
  • Rioting
    • Jan. 21, 2017: Charges pending
    • Jan. 27, 2017: Charges dropped
Release Date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
Yes

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
Unknown
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
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