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The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), along with a coalition of national and local civil society and press freedom organizations, has called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to immediately release journalist Mario Guevara from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and drop removal proceedings against him.
Guevara, an Emmy Award-winning Spanish-language journalist, was arrested on June 14 while livestreaming a protest in suburban Atlanta, Georgia. Despite wearing a press badge and identifying himself as a member of the media, he was taken into custody by local law enforcement during the “No Kings” demonstration opposing former President Trump’s immigration policies.
The arrest led to ICE issuing a detainer request, resulting in Guevara’s transfer to the Folkston ICE Processing Center. The charges that triggered his detention are reportedly three misdemeanors that appear to stem from his journalistic work and have not been adjudicated in court.
“If allowed to proceed, Guevara’s case would set a dangerous precedent—where journalists who are not U.S. citizens could face deportation solely due to retaliatory local charges, undermining press freedom and the rule of law,” the CPJ and partners stated in a joint letter to DHS.
Guevara is known for his independent reporting on immigration issues via his popular MGnews channel on Facebook and other platforms. He has legal authorization to work in the United States.
The coalition has requested Guevara be granted bond and full due process, and that immigration authorities unequivocally drop all removal proceedings. The case is being widely viewed as a test of the U.S. government’s commitment to First Amendment protections, especially for immigrant and independent journalists.
US_Immigration_and_Customs_Enforcement_SWAT Picture by globalvoices.org
