Mario Guevara, a Salvadoran journalist, is currently detained in federal custody in Atlanta following his arrest during a protest in DeKalb County.
In a letter released on July 7, Guevara expressed concerns that he is the target of political persecution connected to his journalistic activities.
Living in the United States for nearly 22 years, Guevara has called upon Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to intervene with U.S. authorities to prevent his deportation.
He argues that his arrest and continued detention are acts of retaliation for covering immigration enforcement operations.
“I am being persecuted for carrying out my journalistic work covering street operations,” Guevara stated in his letter.
He emphasized that he has no prior arrests, has paid taxes consistently, and has maintained a clean criminal record in both the U.S. and El Salvador.
Guevara reported that a U.S. immigration judge initially granted him bail, but that decision was later appealed and overturned by the government.
He remains in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody nearly a month after his arrest, having been transferred to five different detention facilities—a move he believes is intended to undermine his legal standing and expedite his deportation.
“I need to get out so I can continue my life, keep working, and support my family,” he wrote, voicing heightened concern for his children’s wellbeing.
The circumstances surrounding Guevara’s arrest have raised alarms among immigrant rights groups and press freedom advocates, particularly due to his assertion that he was targeted for documenting police activities.
In his direct appeal to President Bukele, Guevara urged the Salvadoran government to intervene on his behalf with the U.S. government.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed dismay at the fact that immigration officials have ignored a federal immigration court’s order that granted Guevara bail.
According to CPJ U.S., Canada and the Caribbean Program Coordinator Katherine Jacobsen, Guevara is the only jailed journalist in the U.S. who was detained in relation to his reporting.
Jacobsen stated, “Immigration authorities must respect the law and release him on bail instead of bouncing him from one jurisdiction to another.”
Guevara, 47, was taken into custody while filming a demonstration at a major intersection in Doraville.
He faced initial charges, including unlawful assembly and obstruction of law enforcement, but those charges were subsequently dropped.
His legal representatives assert that Guevara is in the United States under valid work authorization and has diligently pursued renewal requirements.
They further contend that he has been actively seeking a green card.
Fleeing El Salvador in 2004 due to threats from left-wing paramilitary groups, Guevara has since gained recognition within the U.S. media landscape.
He has contributed to multiple Spanish-language outlets, including Atlanta Latino and Mundo Hispánico.
In 2023, he even won an Emmy Award for his coverage, reflecting his commitment to journalistic integrity.
Recently, he founded MGNews in June 2024, focusing specifically on immigration enforcement issues in the Atlanta area.
As of now, the Salvadoran government has not made a public response to Guevara’s appeal for assistance.
The journalist remains in federal custody at a facility located within the Atlanta area.
FOX 5 Atlanta has reached out to ICE for an update on Guevara’s current status.
image source from：fox5atlanta
