The case of Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara, detained while covering a protest in Georgia, has escalated following recent statements by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that Guevara is “illegally in the United States.”
However, the veteran journalist’s lawyers have come forward: they claim that Mario Guevara entered legally with a work visa, that he has roots in the country and that his son is a U.S. citizen. They also accuse ICE of trying to silence his voice as a journalist.
What happened to Mario Guevara?
On June 14, Mario Guevara – known for his courageous coverage of immigration and civil rights issues – was in DeKalb County, Georgia, documenting the “No King’s” peaceful protest against ICE policies.
Although he carried visible press credentials, he was arrested by local officers in the midst of a riot operation and taken to the county jail.
After his lawyers managed to get him released on signature bond, it became known that the journalist was facing an immigration hold, so in less than 48 hours he was transferred to ICE custody.
ICE’s version and the legal response
In a brief message published on the X network, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that “Mario Guevara entered the United States illegally”.
After this publication, Mario Guevara’s legal team came out to tell the truth in the media founded by Mario Guevara: MG News.
According to the media, Mario Guevara entered the country legally with a valid work visa.
In addition, her son, a U.S. citizen, is in the process of sponsoring his adjustment of status.
“Mario has built his life here. This is not just an immigration case, it is an attempt to silence a journalist doing his job and demanding accountability,” his lawyer Giovanni Diaz told MG News.
A case that worries press defenders
Buzzy
Mario Guevara’s arrest adds to a disturbing trend.
Organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) warn that equating journalistic work with criminal activity sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom in the United States.
The legal team has requested an urgent hearing to review his detention and allow his release on bail.
The lawyers insist that his rights as a journalist and as the father of a U.S. citizen be respected.
Meanwhile, MG News continues its coverage of the case, and colleagues and press freedom advocates across the country are demanding transparency in the process and respect for journalistic work.
