In brief
Mario Guevara, a 48-year-old Spanish-language journalist, was deported to El Salvador on Friday after being held in immigration detention since June. Guevara was arrested while covering a protest against President Donald Trump's administration in Atlanta and claimed that his detention was retaliation for his journalism. Despite attempts by his lawyers to contest the deportation, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the immigration ruling. Guevara's case highlights ongoing issues of press freedom and the treatment of journalists in the U.S.
ATLANTA (AP) — A Spanish-language journalist who had been in immigration detention in Georgia since June was deported on Friday to El Salvador.
Mario Guevara, 48, was covering a protest just outside Atlanta on June 14 when local police arrested him and turned him over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) several days later. His legal team fought in both immigration and federal courts for his release.
In a live video shared on Facebook, Guevara is seen exiting a vehicle with El Salvador government officials, where he greeted his mother with the words, “Hello, Mom.” He expressed gratitude to return to his homeland, stating, “My country, my country, my country. Thank God.”
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently declined to halt a deportation order from the Board of Immigration Appeals. All local criminal charges against Guevara were dismissed after his arrest, and his attorneys argued that he was being punished for his journalistic work, violating his constitutional rights.
Guevara fled El Salvador two decades ago, establishing himself as a prominent media figure in the Atlanta area. He was affiliated with Mundo Hispanico, a Spanish-language newspaper, before launching his digital platform, MG News. He often reported on law enforcement operations, livestreaming events for his audience.
The U.S. government initiated his deportation process shortly after he entered ICE custody. Guevara's history includes a denied immigration case in 2012, but he had been authorized to live and work in the U.S. for the past 13 years.
After Guevara was detained, the Board of Immigration Appeals reopened his past immigration case but ultimately ordered his deportation. His appeals against this ruling were rejected, with lawyers arguing the decisions were based on incorrect information.
The implications of Guevara's deportation raise serious questions about press freedom and the treatment of journalists in the U.S., particularly in the context of political protests.
