Veteran Journalist Shares Her Observations on ICE Raids

As an independent journalist, Elvia Díaz has covered ICE raids around Phoenix and attended a contentious council meeting on a proposed ICE detention center in Surprise, AZ

Elvia Díaz, independent journalist and former editorial page editor of the Arizona Republic.

When Elvia Díaz received a tip that ICE had plans to raid a sports bar and restaurant in central Phoenix, she jumped in her car and headed to the eatery.

She arrived even before the ICE agents. She watched them go in and out of the establishment carrying boxes.

"In the moment, it's a strange feeling when masked agents armed to the teeth show up and you really don't know what's going on," she recalled.

She also witnessed the crowd of anti-ICE protesters grow larger as folks realized what was happening and called on their networks to show up. While the protesters didn't physically confront the agents, they were loud, boisterous and were not backing down, she said.

It could have turned sideways quickly, she told ImpactoAZ.

The former editorial page editor for the Arizona Republic, Díaz is now an independent journalist and has returned to her days of street reporting and going to where the news is taking place.

She spoke with ImpactoAZ about what she's observed the last few weeks and also about the challenges a journalist faces without the corporate backing of traditional media companies. Needless to say, it has created challenges and opportunities

To hear the entire podcast, click here.