Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara, widely known for his frontline coverage of immigration raids across Georgia, is now facing possible deportation after being arrested while reporting—not protesting—at a demonstration in Doraville last Saturday. The arrest and subsequent transfer to ICE custody have sparked alarm from press freedom organizations and immigration advocates alike.
Guevara, who has lived in the United States since 2004, was taken into custody while live-streaming the aftermath of the “No Kings” protest, a demonstration tied to anti-authoritarian and immigrant rights movements. The incident has drawn scrutiny over the blurred lines between law enforcement and immigration enforcement, particularly for members of the press working in immigrant communities.
Arrest Caught on Livestream
Footage from Guevara’s own Facebook livestream, which has since been archived and widely circulated, shows him walking away from the protest scene after police issued dispersal orders. Seconds later, he is confronted by officers.
“Officer, officer, I’m a member of the media,” Guevara is heard saying. “Can you put [my phone] in my bag? The phone, please—it’s for my work.”
He was wearing a press vest and credentials, according to his attorney Zachary Gaeta, and at no point does the video show him engaging in protest activities. Despite this, Guevara was charged with improperly entering a pedestrian roadway, obstruction of law enforcement, and unlawful assembly, per DeKalb County jail records.
A state judge granted Guevara’s release without bail, but ICE intervened, placing him into immigration custody early Wednesday morning.
Press Advocates Call It “Censorship”
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) swiftly condemned the move.
“ICE’s involvement, which could lead to Guevara’s deportation, is a crude form of censorship,” said Katherine Jacobsen, CPJ’s U.S. and Caribbean program coordinator. “Journalists should not fear immigration consequences for doing their jobs.”
Guevara’s reporting has focused heavily on documenting immigration enforcement in real time, often broadcasting live from neighborhoods, courthouses, and worksites. His MG News Facebook outlet has more than 110,000 followers, and his personal page boasts over 780,000.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently profiled him, describing Guevara as a “one-man-band” journalist who provides an unfiltered look at the human toll of U.S. immigration policy.
Immigration Status Under Scrutiny
Guevara came to the U.S. after receiving death threats for his reporting in El Salvador, according to a 2012 CNN profile. His attorney Giovanni Diaz confirmed that he has a valid permit to live and work in the United States, but does not hold a green card or U.S. citizenship.
“He was not protesting. He was recording,” said Gaeta in a video message posted on Facebook. “He clearly identified himself as a journalist.”
While his exact immigration status has not been publicly detailed, his ongoing work permit and legal presence could factor into his defense against deportation.
Political and Civic Concerns
The case raises serious concerns about the treatment of immigrant journalists, especially those covering controversial or politically sensitive issues like immigration enforcement and protest movements.
Civil liberties groups say the timing and nature of Guevara’s ICE detention—after a judge ordered his release—underscore how immigration enforcement can circumvent judicial decisions, creating a chilling effect on speech and journalism.
“If journalists who are immigrants can be removed from the country simply for covering a protest, we have a serious First Amendment crisis,” said Dr. Renee Mendoza, a media law expert at Emory University.
Guevara himself expressed deep gratitude for the U.S. in a February Instagram post, writing, “I am not a U.S. citizen, nor have I ever pretended to be. But I love and respect this country as much as my own. God bless America.”
