Atlanta Journalist Ordered Deported

Mario Guevara

Mario Guevara, a prominent Atlanta-area journalist known for his Spanish-language media coverage, faces imminent deportation to El Salvador after an immigration appeals court ordered his removal. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) warns that Guevara “could be put on a deportation plane at any moment.”

Despite holding a valid work permit and a pathway to residency through his U.S. citizen son, Guevara’s situation deteriorated after his July bond approval was overturned. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) appealed the bond, and Friday’s ruling nullified it. Guevara’s attorneys responded by filing an emergency brief in Georgia federal court to secure his release.

Andres Lopez-Delgado, an ACLU of Georgia staff attorney, expressed concern that the Department of Homeland Security might deport Guevara swiftly, jeopardizing his chances of obtaining relief and reuniting with his family.

In Holding Cell

Guevara’s ordeal began on June 14 when he was arrested while livestreaming an anti-ICE protest in DeKalb County, charged with obstructing law enforcement, unlawful assembly, and pedestrian violations. Although these charges were dropped, ICE promptly took him into custody.

Press freedom advocates, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, which notes Guevara as the only journalist in ICE detention nationwide, argue his arrest targets his reporting on ICE raids across metro Atlanta, reaching over a million followers on social media and his website.

Gigi Pedraza, executive director of the Atlanta-based Latino Community Fund, condemned the deportation order, highlighting Guevara’s clean record, dropped charges, and legal work status. She called his case a threat to democracy and press freedom, stating, “Mario is a symbol of that.”

In a July call with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Guevara described his detention as mentally and physically exhausting, underscoring the toll of his ongoing ordeal.