The authorities of DeKalb County, in the state of Georgia, announced the dismissal of local charges against Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara, arrested on June 14 for his alleged participation in a protest.
Although the local prosecutor’s office closed the case, the reporter continues to be detained by Immigration, but there is hope given that a few weeks ago there was a similar case and the Mexican Ximena Arias Cristóbal, arrested by mistake, is now free.
Arrest in protest of ‘No Kings’ movement
Mario Guevara, a well-known Salvadoran communicator and founder of the digital media MG News, was arrested by the police in Doraville, a city in the northeast part of the Atlanta metropolitan area.
His arrest occurred during a protest by the ‘No Kings’ movement, which has been demonstrating against President Donald Trump’s administration and immigration policies pushed in Georgia.
According to the police report, Mario Guevara was charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer, walking in the roadway and participating in an unauthorized assembly.
However, witnesses and audiovisual material released after his arrest show that he was fully identified as a journalist at the time of his arrest.
DeKalb Prosecutor’s Office Dismisses Charges
DeKalb County Attorney General Donna Coleman-Stribling indicated that her office carefully reviewed the file, including videos of the incident, before deciding to dismiss the charges.
“While there was probable cause to justify the initial arrest, the evidence is not sufficient to sustain a charge beyond a reasonable doubt,” the prosecutor said in a statement.
However, the resolution of the local case did not result in his immediate release.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed a detainer against him because of his immigration status.
ICE argues that Mario Guevara does not have legal permanent residency in the United States, so he was transferred to their custody four days after the arrest.
Immigration status and other pending charges
Mario Guevara is currently being held at the immigration detention center in Folkston, Georgia.
His lawyers have confirmed that he will face an immigration hearing on July 1, where they will request his release on bail.
The defense is being coordinated by the law firm Diaz & Gaeta, with extensive experience in high-profile immigration cases in the region.
While there was probable cause to justify the initial arrest, the evidence is not sufficient to sustain a charge beyond a reasonable doubt
In addition, Guevara faces an outstanding warrant in Gwinnett County for unrelated charges stemming from a traffic incident in May.
The charges include reckless driving, illegal use of a mobile device while driving and disobeying a traffic signal.
However, that order has not been executed while he is in federal custody.
Another similar case in Georgia
Mario Guevara’s is not an isolated case.
In May 2025, Mexican college student Ximena Arias Cristobal, 19, was arrested in Dalton, Georgia, for an alleged traffic violation.
Despite a mistake acknowledged by the local authorities themselves, the young woman ended up in immigration detention before being released days later when the charges against her were dismissed.
A call to the community and journalism
Human rights and press freedom organizations have expressed concern over the detention of Mario Guevara, especially as he is a journalist who has extensively documented ICE activities and immigration operations in Georgia.
For Hispanics in the U.S., this case demonstrates how even minor infractions or administrative incidents can lead to serious immigration consequences, especially for those without regularized immigration status.
The July 1 hearing will be key to defining the immediate future of the Salvadoran journalist.
His legal team is working to demonstrate that his detention is incompatible with his work as a journalist and that his stay in the country is justified by his professional commitment and roots in the community.
Mario Guevara has a son who is a U.S. citizen and was about to apply for his permanent residency.
