‘My children are here’: How journalist Georgia Fort’s arrest impacted her daughters

February 25, 2026

Journalist Georgia Fort was arrested at dawn by federal agents in front of her three young daughters for covering an immigration protest at a Minneapolis church, despite Department of Justice guidelines recommending arrests be postponed when children are present and timing isn't critical. The traumatic arrest left her daughters experiencing fear, nightmares, and anxiety about their own safety and their mother's wellbeing. Fort and fellow journalist Don Lemon face federal charges including conspiracy and violating worshippers' rights, which they deny, amid broader Trump administration efforts to restrict documentation of immigration enforcement activities.

Who is affected

Georgia Fort (journalist) and her three daughters (ages 7, 8, and 17)
Fort's mother (present during the arrest)
Don Lemon (fellow journalist also indicted)
Parents who are journalists, activists, or politicians assessing risk
Dr. Maryam Jernigan-Noesi's 10-year-old son
Children of parents engaged in activism or documentation work
Press freedom groups and newsrooms

What action is being taken

The Trump administration is attempting to expand the scope of preexisting laws and norms to stop individuals from documenting ongoing immigration crackdowns
Parents are assessing their own tolerance for risk and working to mitigate exposure for their children
Dr. Jernigan-Noesi is having conversations with her 10-year-old son about creating safety plans
Mental health professionals are advising parents to use simple concrete language when talking to children about potential government consequences

Why it matters

This case matters because it represents a departure from the Department of Justice's own best practices for safeguarding children during parental arrests, potentially normalizing traumatic arrest procedures that cause lasting psychological harm to minors. The incident highlights the chilling effect on press freedom and documentation of government activities, as journalists and activists must now weigh personal safety and their children's wellbeing against their professional responsibilities to report truthfully. It also raises broader concerns about how expanding enforcement actions may force ordinary parents to prepare their families for potential government retaliation, fundamentally changing the risk calculation for civic participation and advocacy work.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The 19th