Salvadoran Journalist Mario Guevara Archived Photo. SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — The Salvadoran Journalists Association (APES) has called for the United States to respect the rights of Mario Guevara, a Salvadoran journalist detained in Georgia while covering a protest against former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
Guevara, a prominent figure in Georgia’s Hispanic media community with over 782,000 Facebook followers, was arrested Saturday by Doraville police while broadcasting live from a demonstration organized by the “No Kings” movement.
The protest opposed immigration raids linked to Trump-era enforcement measures.
APES issued a statement Thursday expressing “deep concern” over Guevara’s arrest in DeKalb County, describing it as a violation of press freedom and the right to report on public demonstrations.
“The arrest occurred in the context of legitimate coverage and in the exercise of universally recognized freedom of expression,” the organization stated. “We demand that his rights be respected.”
The association urged U.S. authorities to guarantee the safety, legal defense, and personal integrity of Guevara, warning that his possible deportation would “set a negative precedent for the Hispanic press and journalism in the United States.”
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Guevara was formally transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on Wednesday, according to official sources.
His wife, Miriam Guevara, remarked that she had spoken with him and that he remained optimistic despite the legal uncertainty.
APES also called on the Salvadoran government to provide immediate consular assistance to Guevara and reiterated the importance of protecting journalists who report on sensitive issues affecting immigrant communities.
At the time of his arrest, Guevara identified himself as a journalist but was charged with walking in a vehicular traffic lane, obstructing law enforcement, and unlawful assembly.
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He has previously worked as a photojournalist for La Prensa Gráfica in El Salvador and as a reporter for Mundo Hispánico in Atlanta.
More recently, he has been documenting ICE operations in the Atlanta metropolitan area through his independent digital platform.
