By Trendsetter Tribune 
In the latest escalation of the federal crackdown on immigration reporting, independent photographer Shane Ryan Bollman (known professionally as Junn Bollmann) was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents on February 27, 2026. The arrest, first reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on March 2, follows a series of high-profile detentions of reporters documenting ICE activities.
The Charges Against Bollmann
Bollmann was arrested outside his Los Angeles apartment and is facing severe federal charges related to his coverage of an anti-ICE protest at a church in Minnesota earlier this year.
- The Allegations: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged Bollmann with a felony count of “conspiring to deprive others of their civil rights” and a misdemeanor violation of the FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act), which the administration has begun applying to houses of worship.
- Seized Equipment: Upon his arrest, federal agents confiscated Bollmann’s phone, camera, and laptop. He has reportedly not yet received a search warrant for the devices, leading to concerns about the protection of his journalistic sources.
- Legal Context: These are the same charges recently handed to former CNN reporter Don Lemon and independent journalist Georgia Fort, who were also arrested in connection with the same Minnesota demonstration.
A Pattern of “Criminalizing Observation”
The arrest of Bollmann is part of what civil rights groups describe as a coordinated effort to “criminalize the observation” of federal immigration officers.
- The Statute: The Trump administration is increasingly using a federal law that makes it illegal to “forcibly impede or interfere with a federal officer” to arrest people—including journalists—who film or follow ICE agents.
- The Mario Guevara Case: The most prominent example is Atlanta journalist Mario Guevara, who was held in ICE detention for over 100 days. Despite being legally authorized to work in the U.S., Guevara was recently deported to El Salvador—the country he originally fled due to death threats—after the government argued his livestreaming of ICE raids posed a danger to undercover agents.
- Recent Violence: In Minneapolis, reporters have documented agents shattering car windows with batons to extract and detain observers who were filming from their vehicles.
Press Freedom Advocacy
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) and other advocacy groups have condemned the arrests, arguing that the First Amendment provides a clear right to record law enforcement in public spaces.
“Using federal agents to arrest a journalist weaponizes taxpayer dollars to deter reporting, which directly impacts the public’s right to information.” — Katherine Jacobsen, CPJ Coordinator
The DOJ has maintained that these individuals are not being targeted for their journalism, but for “interfering with ongoing federal investigations” and “obstructing access” during protests.