Charges dropped against Tampa photojournalist arrested covering ICE protest

Dave Decker outside the Krome detention center in Miami, Florida (Nov. 22, 2025)
Credit: Screengrab via sunrisemvmtgnv / Instagram

All charges against Creative Loafing Tampa Bay photojournalist Dave Decker were dropped Tuesday, following his arrest last month while covering an anti-ICE protest.

Decker was among more than 30 people arrested outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Miami on Nov. 22. He was on assignment for three outlets — News2Share, Zuma Newswire and CL — covering a Sunshine Movement protest, where many of its members were arrested after blocking the entrance to the facility on the southeastern edge of the Florida Everglades.

The 52-year-old photographer was charged with trespassing on property after warning, resisting an officer without violence to his person, unlawful assembly and obstructing a highway, despite wearing visible press credentials and telling officers he was a member of the media.

Decker released a statement Tuesday after charges were dropped.

“I am grateful for the outpouring of support from my colleagues, my community and from media organizations following my arrest while documenting an ICE protest,” Decker wrote. “I also want to thank the State Attorney’s Office for recognizing the First Amendment interest at stake and for dismissing the case. I appreciate everyone who stood up for press freedom and the fundamental right to record events in our communities.”

He is represented by attorney Barbara Llanes.

Sunshine Movement members stated publicly before the action that they were ready to be detained. Decker was not. He spent two days in jail before being released on bond.

A GoFundMe set up by Creative Loafing editor-in-chief Ray Roa raised more than $26,000 to support Decker’s family and cover costs associated with the arrest, including recovery of his vehicle and gear.

“Thanks to my Creative Loafing family and a special thanks to Bobby Block from the First Amendment Foundation and the NPPA (National Press Photographers Association), the Press Freedom Foundation, the Society of Professional Journalists and all the other orgs in my corner,” he told CL.

Decker is back to covering protests, most recently of striking Starbucks workers in Clearwater.

A version of this story first appeared in our sibling publication Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

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