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July 9, 2025 – New York – The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to immediately release Mario Guevara, a Salvadoran journalist detained at the Folkston ICE Processing Center in Georgia, despite a federal court order for his release.
On July 1, an immigration judge granted Guevara a $7,500 bond, affirming his eligibility for release. However, ICE has not complied with the ruling, prompting sharp criticism from CPJ and press freedom advocates.
“By continuing to detain Mario Guevara, ICE is effectively silencing a journalist who has reported on immigration issues for nearly two decades,” said Katherine Jacobsen, CPJ’s U.S., Canada, and Caribbean program coordinator. She emphasized that Guevara was legally present in the U.S. and that his detention undermines press freedom.
Guevara, a Spanish-language reporter with a focus on immigration and community issues in Georgia, was arrested on June 14 while covering a protest. Although initial charges were dismissed on June 25, ICE transferred him to federal custody, citing immigration-related concerns. According to CPJ, Guevara held valid work authorization and had no criminal record. His continued detention, the organization argues, sends a chilling message to immigrant journalists and newsrooms nationwide.
The CPJ has called for a transparent review of ICE’s practices, asserting that Guevara’s case reflects a broader pattern of retaliation against members of the press. The organization maintains that no journalist should face incarceration for doing their job, particularly when protected by the First Amendment and judicial rulings.
The case has drawn national attention from legal and media organizations concerned about the implications for press freedom and the misuse of immigration enforcement.
Excerpts from jurist.org article by Arianna Roberts | New York Law School, US
