In brief
Mario Guevara, a journalist who covered protests in Atlanta, was deported to El Salvador after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since June. Guevara's arrest sparked claims of retaliation against him for his journalistic work. Despite legal battles to secure his release and stay in the U.S., all charges against him were dismissed, but he was ultimately deported after appeals were denied.
ATLANTA (PulseWire) — Spanish-language journalist Mario Guevara has been deported to El Salvador after being held in immigration detention since June. Guevara, 48, was arrested by local police during a protest near Atlanta on June 14 and subsequently turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).In a heartfelt live video posted on Facebook shortly after his arrival in El Salvador, Guevara expressed his gratitude upon returning home, saying, My country, my country, my country. Thank God. This isn’t how I wanted to come to my country, but thank God.Guevara had been livestreaming from a “No Kings” rally protesting then-President Donald Trump when he was detained. Known for documenting ICE activities at protest sites, Guevara worked for Mundo Hispanico before founding his own digital news outlet, MG News.His legal team fought relentlessly in both immigration and federal courts to secure his release, contending that he was targeted to silence him due to his work as a journalist.I’m a member of the media, officer, Guevara can be heard saying in a video taken during his arrest. His legal troubles began when he was charged, but local prosecutors later dismissed all charges against him, citing no grounds for prosecution.The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the deportation order issued last month by the Board of Immigration Appeals, marking a significant defeat in Guevara's legal strategy. Lawyers argued that his past application for U.S. residency had been incorrectly evaluated.Despite attempts to appeal the deportation order claiming he faced retaliation for his journalism, Guevara was sent back to El Salvador, the country he fled two decades ago due to safety concerns. His case highlights the ongoing issues surrounding the treatment of journalists in the U.S.
