BREAKING: Border Patrol Threatens to Arrest Our Journalist Jon Farina for Filming Them

"Do it again you're gonna get arrested," Border Patrol agent says to our videojournalist Jon Farina and another photojournalist for the crime of...covering their illegal activities.

***Status Coup has been ON THE GROUND reporting in Chicago—and now Charlotte—on Trump’s violent ICE Invasion for NEARLY 2 MONTHS. This has taken A LOT of resources—and NO OTHER OUTLETS are doing this kind of in-the-trenches reporting. We REALLY need more viewers to become paid Status Coup members in order to continue doing this important ON THE GROUND reporting. Please support our INDEPENDENT reporting as a paying Status Coup member for as low as $5 bucks a month***

This morning, our videojournalist Jon Farina, along with another photojournalist, was out covering Border Patrol operations—which is protected First Amendment journalism—when two Border Patrol agents approached his car and threatened to arrest him and another photojournalist for the crime of…legally observing their public movements and operations (watch video above)

“Do it again you’re gonna get arrested,” the border patrol agent said to Pierre, a photojournalist Jon was driving with. The Border Patrol agent claimed Jon and Pierre were “impeding federal operations,” citing 18 U.S. Code § 111, because apparently driving near Border Patrol and/or ICE agents “impedes” there ability to kidnap immigrants (and U.S. citizens).

Of course, this is completely unconstitutional and illegal. Here is what attorney Weston Rowland told us about Border Patrol’s threats against Status Coup:

“By pulling over a news crew that was lawfully filming them and threatening arrest if they continued, ICE agents crossed a clear constitutional line. The First Amendment protects the right of the press—and the public—to observe and record government officials in public, without retaliation. And when officers use a traffic stop with no valid basis to shut down that coverage, they also risk violating the Fourth Amendment’s ban on unreasonable seizures. This isn’t just heavy-handed; it’s unconstitutional.”

***NO OTHER NEWS OUTLET—MAINSTREAM OR INDEPENDENT—IS CONSISTENTLY DOING THIS LEVEL OF ON THE GROUND JUSTICE JOURNALISM. FULL TRANSPARENCY: while reporting ON THE GROUND in Chicago, and now Charlotte, for nearly 2 months, we have spent over $14,000 (flights, hotels, rent a car, gas, food, safety equipment, and more).

We are INDEPENDENT and need more funding to continue showing you the front lines of the battle against fascism in America. Please support our justice journalism as a paying Status Coup member for as low as $5 bucks a month.