Immigrant Journalist Mario Guevara Still Detained by ICE Despite Bond—Press Freedom at Risk

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 July 11, 2025 | Atlanta, GA, USA


Salvadoran-American journalist Mario Guevara, founder of MG News, has been held for nearly a month after covering a June “No Kings” anti-Trump protest in Georgia. Despite an immigration judge granting him $7,500 bond, ICE continues to detain him—even after all criminal charges were dropped—raising serious concerns about press freedom and due process.

📝 Key Updates & Timeline

  • June 14: Guevara livestreamed his coverage wearing a vest labeled “PRESS” when DeKalb County deputies arrested him during a protest. He identified himself as media, but was still taken into custody.

  • Late June: Initial misdemeanor charges—unlawful assembly, obstruction, pedestrian offense—were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

  • June 20: Gwinnett County issued traffic-related misdemeanor warrants (distracted driving, reckless driving, failure to obey), which have since been dismissed. 

  • July 1: Immigration Judge James Ward approved a $7,500 bond, but ICE refused the payment, citing pending appeal. Guevara was then shuffled through FIVE ICE-facilitated jail transfers in Georgia. 

  • July 10: All charges dropped by Gwinnett solicitor citing insufficient evidence. ICE now facing criticism for ignoring court orders. 

👥 Family & Legal Status

  • Guevara, 47, came to the U.S. from El Salvador in 2004, applied for asylum in 2005, and has lived legally since—with work permits and a pending green card application via his U.S.-born son. 

  • His attorney, Giovanni Diaz, calls the detention “a combined effort by local and federal agencies to keep him detained as long as possible.” 

🛡 Press Freedom & Rights at Stake

  • The Committee to Protect Journalists, among others, condemns the detention: “Guevara is currently the only jailed journalist in the United States who was arrested in relation to his work… Immigration authorities must respect the law and release him on bail.”

  • The New Yorker adds that his case highlights the vulnerability of immigrant journalists and “the criminalization of journalism.” 

  • Fox 5 Atlanta reports Guevara faced extortion threats by cellmates in one ICE facility—highlighting dangerous conditions. 

🔎 What’s Next?

  • ICE Appeal: Officials have appealed the bond order to the Board of Immigration Appeals, delaying release. 

  • Civil Rights Questions: Legal advocates seek investigations into coordinated efforts between DeKalb, Gwinnett, and ICE aimed at targeting press coverage of protests. 

  • Public & Diplomatic Pressure: Guevara has appealed to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for support, though no response has come yet. 


🔍 Why It Matters for U.S. Audiences

  • This case threatens First Amendment rights, particularly for noncitizen journalists covering protests.

  • It underscores the growing clash between local law enforcement and press freedoms, especially within immigration contexts.

  • The unfolding details—the misuse of traffic charges, bond denial, and jail transfers—reveal systemic vulnerabilities in protections for the press.


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