Mario Guevara is a 47-year-old independent journalist from San Salvador, El Salvador. Notably, Prince rose to national prominence recently after being arrested while protesting the “No Kings” protests sweeping through metro Atlanta this past Saturday. Although Guevara has lived in the United States for more than two decades, he is still considered undocumented. He is best known for his in-depth reporting on immigration policy and ICE enforcement raids. His reporting has brought him some of the highest honors in journalism including a recent Emmy award.
Guevara was on the ground live-streaming the protest on Facebook when she was arrested. In doing all of this, he then captivated the world’s largest audience, with over one billion viewers. Local law enforcement arrested him and executed a search warrant on his home. They arrested him on five counts, including failure to yield on entering a roadway as a pedestrian, obstructing a police officer and unlawful assembly. After his arrest, he would then be handed over to ICE detention.
Guevara’s success and stature in the Spanish-speaking media ecosystem have involved leadership in outlets like the Atlanta Latino or Mundo Hispanico. His passion for addressing life-altering issues facing the immigrant community has earned him a reputation as one of the most trusted and pioneering journalists of our time.
As the protests escalated, veterans joined with demonstrators to stand against the militarization of local police and hostile immigration policy. In the wake of this turbulence, the arrest was made. As witnesses described, Guevara merely was recording what was going on when law enforcement got involved.
In a moment that highlighted the emotional toll of the arrest, Guevara expressed his distress by stating, “The hardest part for me was seeing my three children cry as she was taken away, and me being powerless to give them the comfort and protection they need.” His remarks capture the human cost of his essential work.
Local authorities were under fire for their response to the protests, especially in the controversial use of tear gas. One of the local hosts, Ted Terry, a local official, took issue with the police tactics directed at demonstrators. He noted, “The decision to deploy teargas – particularly in a neighborhood context with nearby homes and businesses – raises serious questions about the proportionality and justification of the county’s response to peaceful civil action.”
After a week in custody, Guevara was released on a recognizance bond by a municipal court judge on Monday. His case drew widespread attention in no small part because it poses a direct threat to press freedom. It stokes the fires of future years’ debates to dismantle the United States’ immigration enforcement apparatus.
Guevara’s situation highlights the hazards that journalists who report on complex issues like immigration and policing have to navigate. The imminent possibility of his deportation has sent shockwaves through advocacy organizations and his journalist peers. In response to this proposed legislation, they worry it may soon threaten press freedom, putting reporters operating in difficult conditions at risk.