In a public statement released Thursday, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) expressed “deep concern” over the recent firing of Laura Castañeda, the most senior Latina journalist at The San Diego Union-Tribune and president of NAHJ’s San Diego chapter.

“Castañeda said her abrupt dismissal on June 12, 2025, came hours after the publisher rejected an editorial she co-authored criticizing the deployment of federal troops to quell protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles, raising broader concerns about self-censorship in newsrooms,” the NAHJ statement said. “The company says her dismissal was unrelated to the editorial, and she was one of six Union-Tribune employees notified of termination that day.”

NAHJ President Dunia Elvir said that this “raises important questions about newsroom priorities, highlighting ongoing conversations about representation and voice in media leadership. NAHJ calls on the Union-Tribune and its parent companies to prioritize support for independent local journalism, recognizing its importance in fostering public trust.”

Late last week, I heard directly from Castañeda, who shared that she was fired on the same day Senator Alex Padilla was physically removed from a Department of Homeland Security press conference. She described her dismissal as “a clear case of censorship and retaliation.”

Over the past few days, I exchanged emails with Castañeda and sent her some questions about her news. Losing a job is never easy, especially for Latino and Latina journalists who remain underrepresented in the industry.

Here is what she told me:

JULIO RICARDO VARELA: It’s been around three weeks since you learned of your firing. Do you have any updates to share?

LAURA CASTAÑEDA: The outpouring of support continues, not only here in San Diego-Tijuana but across the nation. I’ve heard from many colleagues and former journalism students who keep encouraging me not to stay silent. I’ve been called “Joan of Arc” and “La Luchadora.” I’m not sure I deserve those titles, but I feel like all of a sudden, I’ve become a spokesperson for Latino journalists who have been discarded. If I can give strength to one other person, that’s fine, I’ll accept it.

JRV: How has the response been to your news?

LC: Not at all what I expected. I’ve heard from former readers, community leaders, activists, other journalists, and members of the U-T’s Community Voices Project, as well as everyday people who believe in democracy and freedom of speech. They are angry. They feel like they are also being silenced. These are unprecedented times. Journalists are under attack, and our profession is in crisis. When I woke up on June 12, I never expected to be silenced by a publisher, and witness my Latino Sen. Alex Padilla on the same day be thrown to the ground, and handcuffed.

This is all still very unsettling.

I am thankful to everyone who reached out. I feel this is not only about me, but all of us.

JRV: You are a veteran journalist who has covered your community extensively and has a deep understanding of it. What is it about this moment that stands out?

LC: These ICE raids taking place across our communities are mostly being exposed publicly thanks to citizens who are using their phones to record them. People are using social media like never before. They are also putting themselves at risk, but refuse to stand by and do nothing. The community is not sitting back waiting for someone else to tell their story.

As media companies cut back on staff and journalists with institutional knowledge are dismissed or leave the industry, so many stories are being missed.

Nonprofit community newsrooms are winning this war, in my opinion. They have a different business model and mission. They do care what the community thinks. I don’t think the community will forget that.

JRV: What would you advise other journalists covering immigration news now?

LC: Immigration is not only what’s happening along the U.S.-Mexico border, as we well know, and immigration is not only about Latinos. We need to break that stereotype now.

For the past decade, there have been journalists who have only covered immigration as a beat. Now, every journalist is suddenly covering immigration in some form.

We all need to brush up on the laws. We need to make and maintain strong community connections and don’t just show up when raids or horrible things are happening. There are good people out there doing good things. Show that side of the story too.

Watch your back. This nation is so divided. Tempers are flaring. People are angry, and journalists are not safe or respected. We need to look out for each other.

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U.S. Citizen Sues: From NBC News, “The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund is demanding the federal government pay $1 million in damages to a U.S. citizen who was arrested and detained while he was recording an immigration raid at a Home Depot in Los Angeles last month.”

Julio Ricardo Varela is the founder of The Latino Newsletter. He is also its current part-time publisher and executive director. Email him here.

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