Martín Méndez Pineda fled Acapulco in February, 2017. He sought asylum in El Paso, TX, but he has been in a detention facility there even after American authorities agreed the reporter had a credible fear of returning to his country.
Méndez Pineda left Acapulco after he was attacked by Mexican federal officers and later threatened at gunpoint by six armed men. The attacks were in retaliation for his watchdog reporting on abuses committed by Mexican government officials. His appeal to the Mexican National Human Rights Commission did not produce any result.
He wrote for Novedades de Acapulco. Donations to help him can be made to the Law Offices of Carlos Spector in El Paso, (915) 544-0441.
Story by Julián Aguilar in The Texas Tribune: Mexican journalist’s case suggests changes to asylum process under Trump
Spanish-language story by Patricia Dávila in Proceso: Persiste detención de periodista guerrerense que pide asilo en EU: Spector
Update at 8 PM CDT: Reporters Without Borders has a petition going in support of Méndez. Click here to sign it.