A prominent Spanish-language journalist, Mario Guevara, was arrested over the weekend while covering a protest against the Trump administration’s immigration policies, his legal team confirmed Monday. Guevara, originally from El Salvador, has been a long-time fixture in the Latino media landscape of Atlanta and is known for his in-depth reporting on immigrant rights, deportation cases, and community activism.
According to eyewitnesses and lawyers representing Guevara, the arrest occurred during a peaceful demonstration held in downtown Atlanta. Protesters had gathered to condemn what they described as the inhumane treatment of immigrant families and the administration’s continued push for aggressive deportation policies. Guevara was reportedly filming and conducting interviews when law enforcement intervened.
“It’s outrageous,” said Carolina Mendoza, one of Guevara’s attorneys. “He was doing his job — exercising freedom of the press in broad daylight. His arrest raises serious questions about First Amendment violations and the targeting of journalists, particularly those reporting on immigration issues.”
Guevara’s arrest has sparked outrage among civil rights groups and press freedom advocates. The Atlanta chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) issued a statement demanding his immediate release and a thorough investigation into the actions of the officers involved. “This is not just an attack on Mario Guevara,” the statement read. “It’s an attack on the immigrant community, on the press, and on democracy itself.”
The Atlanta Police Department has yet to release a formal statement detailing the reason for Guevara’s arrest. However, sources suggest he may be facing charges related to “failure to disperse” and “obstruction,” charges his lawyers vehemently deny as baseless and retaliatory. They argue that Guevara was clearly identifiable as a member of the press and posed no threat to public order.
This incident adds to growing national concern over the treatment of journalists covering politically sensitive events. Guevara, who fled El Salvador’s civil conflict as a teenager, has been a vocal advocate for press freedom and immigrant rights for more than two decades. His supporters are planning a rally outside the Atlanta courthouse on Tuesday, demanding justice and calling for all charges to be dropped immediately.
