FAC joined the Committee to Protect Journalists and a nationwide coalition of rights organizations to protest U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s detention of journalist Mario Guevara. In a letter to DHS Director Kristi Noem, the organizations urged that he be released on bond and that removal proceedings against him, which were triggered by three misdemeanor charges that appear to conflict with his First Amendment rights, be dropped immediately.
Guevara is an Emmy-winning, Spanish-language reporter who covers immigration on his “MGnews” Facebook page and other social media platforms. He was arrested on June 14 while livestreaming a “No Kings” protest in a suburb of Atlanta. Video of his arrest shows Guevara was wearing a press pass and clearly identified himself as a journalist to law enforcement. He was transferred ICE custody after immigration authorities issued a detainer against the journalist, who has authorization to work in the United States.