Spanish-Language Journalist Deported After Arrest Covering Atlanta Protest

ATLANTA, Ga. — Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara, who had been in immigration detention in Georgia since June, was deported Friday to El Salvador after being arrested while covering a protest in Atlanta this summer.

Guevara, 48, was documenting a demonstration against immigration enforcement on June 14 when local police detained him and turned him over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). All criminal charges stemming from his arrest in Georgia were later dismissed. His lawyers had been pursuing both immigration court and federal court avenues to secure his release.

In a video posted to Facebook after his return to El Salvador, Guevara was seen hugging relatives and saying, “Hello, Mom. My country, my country, my country. Thank God.” He also posted photos celebrating his return and declared himself “ready to continue working twice as hard from my country.”

Background and Legal Battles

Guevara has been a prominent Spanish-language reporter in metro Atlanta for years, working previously for Mundo Hispanico before launching his own digital outlet, MG News, last year. He frequently livestreamed protests and immigration enforcement activity, often arriving at scenes where ICE or other agencies were active.

Following his arrest, an immigration judge granted him bond in July, but he remained in custody while the government appealed. His legal team argued that Guevara was being held in retaliation for his journalism, which they claim violated his constitutional rights.

The Board of Immigration Appeals ultimately ordered Guevara’s deportation, dismissing his appeal and declining to return the case to a lower immigration court. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request to halt the deportation while his appeal was pending.

Press Freedom Concerns

Guevara’s detention drew condemnation from journalism and civil liberties groups. Katherine Jacobsen of the Committee to Protect Journalists called the deportation “a troubling sign of the deteriorating freedom of the press,” emphasizing that it marked the first documented instance of retaliation against a U.S.-based journalist for reporting activity.

Department of Homeland Security officials, however, maintain that Guevara was deported due to his immigration status and deny any connection to his work as a journalist.

Guevara fled El Salvador two decades ago, seeking safety, and has built a significant audience reporting on Latino communities in the Atlanta area.

Next Steps

Guevara’s attorneys have indicated they will continue legal challenges, including a separate federal case contesting the constitutionality of his detention. Meanwhile, Guevara plans to continue his journalism work from El Salvador.