• Award-winning journalist Mario Guevara remains held by ICE despite no criminal conviction.
• The ACLU and press freedom groups demand his immediate release and bond hearing.
• The Board of Immigration Appeals paused his bond appeal, opening the door to deportation.
• Advocates warn this case threatens press freedom and chills critical reporting.
• His family and news outlet face financial ruin as he fights for his future.
Mario Guevara’s Detention Explained
Mario Guevara, an Emmy-winning journalist, has reported on immigrant issues in Atlanta for twenty years. In June, he covered a “No Kings” protest while wearing a press vest and livestreaming law enforcement activity. Shortly afterward, ICE agents arrested him. At the time, he held a valid work permit and had a clear path to a green card through his US citizen son. Yet today, he sits in an ICE center in Folkston, Georgia.
The ACLU filed an emergency request with a federal court in Georgia. They asked the judge to order Guevara’s immediate release. The Board of Immigration Appeals recently dropped his bond appeal as “moot.” Instead, it granted the government’s motion to reopen his removal case. In other words, the government can move forward with deportation despite earlier rulings that he could leave on bond.
Scarlet Kim, senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, spoke out against this move. She said the government has held Guevara “because of his crucial reporting on law enforcement activity.” She added that removing him to El Salvador, a country he once fled for safety, is “despicable.” Kim urged the court to stop his deportation and free him at once.
ACLU of Georgia legal director Cory Isaacson called Guevara’s detention “a gross violation of his rights.” He stressed that deporting Mario Guevara would devastate a reporter who did nothing wrong. Isaacson warned that failing to release him would harm Guevara’s family, the local community, and the people of Georgia. In his view, journalists must never face arrest for simply doing their job.
Instead of following a July 1 decision that allowed Guevara to post bond, ICE ignored the order. The agency argued it would not release him while his removal proceedings reopened. As a result, the journalist has been locked up for months. Meanwhile, the charges from June have already been dropped.
What’s Next for Mario Guevara
Press freedom organizations have rallied behind Guevara. The Committee to Protect Journalists said they are “outraged” that a reporter can be detained for livestreaming law enforcement. Katherine Jacobsen, their program coordinator, pointed out that ICE has not explained why it holds him. She argued that using deportation to punish a journalist is wrong and dangerous.
PEN America’s journalism director, Tim Richardson, called the case a “dangerous moment for press freedom.” He noted that the United States has always touted itself as a free speech haven. He warned that deporting a reporter for covering vulnerable communities mirrors tactics used by authoritarian regimes. Richardson urged the court to reconsider and let Guevara continue his work without fear.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation also weighed in. They posted a statement on social media that captured the uproar: Mario Guevara is here legally and faces no criminal blame. Yet the government plans to toss him out simply for reporting news. This hashtagged message quickly spread among free press advocates.
Even the White House has faced pressure, as the broader context involves the current administration’s push for mass deportations. Free Press senior counsel Nora Benavidez said that if Guevara’s removal happens, it will set a grim new norm. She argued it fits a pattern that punishes any narrative not approved by those in power. She linked Guevara’s case to other recent moves against protestors, commentators, and social media platforms.
In a heartfelt letter published this week, Guevara shared his own thoughts. He wrote that ICE treats him like a criminal, even though he never broke the law. He described the pain of losing tens of thousands of dollars in income and watching his news channel, MGNews, verge on bankruptcy. Yet he vowed to stay strong, believing the United States still holds decency and justice.
Guevara explained how detention has affected his family. As the main provider, he worries about their survival. He dreams of the day they will smile again, free and safe. His words show both his anguish and his hope that the justice system will correct this wrong.
Transitioning out of the legal maze, the court must decide soon. The ACLU secured a hearing this Friday to argue for Guevara’s release. They want a clear ruling that he qualifies for bond and can remain here legally. If the judge sides with them, Guevara could leave detention next week.
Still, the fact that a journalist can face deportation for filming a protest worries many. It raises the question: will other reporters think twice before covering protests or police actions? This chilling effect could harm the public’s right to know.
The spotlight now turns to the federal court in Georgia. Both sides will present their cases. Guevara’s lawyers will emphasize his spotless record, his work permit, and his family ties. The government will likely argue that reopening removal proceedings justifies continued detention.
Regardless of the outcome, the case of Mario Guevara has already made waves. It highlights the fragile state of press freedom and immigration rights. It forces citizens to ask what kind of country allows a law-abiding reporter to rot in detention.
As the hearing approaches, supporters plan rallies and social media campaigns. They aim to show the court and the public that keeping Guevara locked up undermines justice. They urge everyone to speak out and demand his immediate release.
In the end, the story of Mario Guevara matters because it touches on free speech, due process, and the role of journalism in democracy. His fight is not only his own. It represents every reporter who risks much to keep the world informed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Mario Guevara end up in detention?
He was arrested by ICE while covering a protest in June and remains held despite dropped charges and a valid work permit.
Does Mario Guevara have a chance to stay in the U.S.?
Yes. His legal team argues he has a clear path to permanent residency through his U.S. citizen son and should be released on bond.
What are press freedom groups saying about this case?
Groups warn the case chills journalism and equate his potential deportation to tactics used by authoritarian regimes.
How can the public support Mario Guevara?
People can contact elected officials, join rallies, and share his story on social media to demand his immediate release.