In brief
Mario Guevara, a 48-year-old journalist, was deported to El Salvador after spending over three months in immigration detention in Georgia. Arrested during a protest in June, Guevara asserted that his detention was a retaliation for his work as a journalist. Despite appeals for his release, a deportation order was upheld by the courts, leading to his departure back to his home country.
ATLANTA (AP) — Mario Guevara, a Spanish-language journalist known for covering local protests, was deported to El Salvador on Friday after having been in immigration detention in Georgia since June. Guevara, aged 48, was arrested by local police while covering a ‘No Kings’ rally protesting the Trump administration on June 14, 2023. Afterward, he was placed in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).In a poignant video posted on Facebook upon his return, Guevara is seen embraced by a woman and expressing gratitude for returning to his country, despite the circumstances. Hello, Mom, he said as he exited a vehicle escorted by Salvadoran officials.Guevara’s deportation followed the refusal of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stay a deportation order from the Board of Immigration Appeals. Throughout his detention, Guevara's lawyers argued that his arrest and subsequent deportation were retaliatory actions aimed at silencing him due to his work as a journalist.After his arrest, all criminal charges against Guevara were dismissed. He has worked as a journalist for various outlets, including Mundo Hispanico, and has established a reputation for live-streaming police activities regarding ICE operations in minority communities.Despite having lived and worked in the U.S. for more than 13 years with a pending visa application supported by his U.S. citizen son, Guevara's immigration journey has faced numerous hurdles. His case was previously denied a bid to remain in the U.S. in 2012, and after entering ICE custody in June, the government moved to reopen his immigration case, which had been administratively closed.In a recent ruling, the Board of Immigration Appeals declined Guevara's appeal, leading to his deportation. His legal team continues to fight the circumstances surrounding his detention, maintaining that Guevara was targeted for his journalistic activities.
