In brief
Mario Guevara, a Spanish-language journalist detained in Georgia, faces impending deportation to El Salvador as the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed a government appeal regarding his case. Arrested in June while reporting on a protest, Guevara's legal team argues he is being punished for his journalism work, emphasizing that all criminal charges against him have been dismissed.
ATLANTA (AP) — Lawyers for Spanish-language journalist Mario Guevara, who has been in immigration detention in Georgia since June, expressed serious concerns on Friday regarding his imminent deportation to El Salvador after an appeals panel reopened a prior immigration case against him.
Guevara was arrested by local police in DeKalb County on June 14 while he was covering a protest and subsequently transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. An immigration judge initially granted his bond in July, but he has remained detained as the government sought to appeal.
According to Guevara's legal team, all charges filed against him by police have been dismissed. They argue that he is being punished for his role as a journalist, particularly for filming ICE and other law enforcement activities, which they claim infringes upon his constitutional rights.
An Unfavorable Ruling
The Board of Immigration Appeals ruled on Friday that the government’s appeal of the bond order was moot and declared that Guevara's deportation order is final. However, Guevara’s attorneys contend that the ruling was based on incorrect information. They have filed for an emergency hearing in federal court, fearing that the appeals decision could lead to his immediate deportation.
Scarlet Kim, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, indicated that the Board's decision appears to incorrectly assert that an immigration judge had formally ordered Guevara's deportation. Guevara had been granted voluntary departure in a previous immigration case over a decade ago, and while that case was administratively closed, he was given authorization to live and work in the U.S.
The Impact of Journalism
Ultimately, Guevara's situation raises significant concerns surrounding press freedom and the treatment of journalists in the U.S. Guevara has built a significant presence as a journalist, operating a digital news outlet called MG News and previously working for the publication Mundo Hispánico.
In June, he was covering a rally against the policies of former President Donald Trump when he was arrested. Despite identifying himself as a member of the press, Guevara was taken into custody, underscoring potential threats faced by journalists in documenting protests and law enforcement actions.
Dismissed Charges
All criminal charges against Guevara have been dismissed by DeKalb County. The solicitor-general stated that video evidence demonstrated he complied with law enforcement directives, and other charges related to his arrest have also been dropped since he was in ICE custody.
