红杏视频

ATLANTA 鈥� Mario Guevara, an Emmy-winning journalist detained by ICE in retaliation for his livestreaming of law enforcement activity, is being deported tomorrow to El Salvador.

On Tuesday, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals denied an emergency request for a stay on a final order of removal from the Board of Immigration Appeals. His family, including his wife and three children, were not given the opportunity to say goodbye to their father in person. Mario has been transferred to a facility in Louisiana after spending over 100 days in ICE detention and will go directly from detention onto a plane to El Salvador.

鈥淲ords cannot begin to describe the loss and devastation my family feels. I am in utter shock and disbelief the government has punished my father for simply doing his life鈥檚 work of journalism,鈥� said Oscar Guevara, son of Mario Guevara. 鈥�My father should have never had to face over 100 days in detention. He is the center of our family. He is the reason our home feels like home. To me, he鈥檚 my rock, and I don鈥檛 know what life without him here will look like now that he will be deported. When I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2021, it was my dad who centered me, who drove me to my medical appointments, and who lifted me up. Now, I will have to manage my health care on my own, and live thousands of miles away separated from him. My family has been torn apart for no good reason, and I can only hope that we can one day be reunited.鈥�

Mr. Guevara was arrested by local law enforcement while reporting at a 鈥淣o Kings鈥� protest in June. Even though the charges were quickly dismissed and an immigration judge ordered his release on bond, ICE refused to release him on grounds that his reporting on law enforcement activity is dangerous. He spent over 100 days in ICE detention in retaliation for his journalism. He was the only journalist in detention in the United States for his reporting. As the founder and primary reporter of MG News, he frequently documented ICE raids and other law enforcement activity and had authorization to work in the United States.

鈥淭he government kept Mario unlawfully detained for weeks because of his vital reporting on law enforcement activity. His deportation is a devastating and tragic outcome for a father and celebrated journalist,鈥� said Scarlet Kim, senior staff attorney with the 红杏视频鈥檚 Speech, Privacy, & Technology Project. 鈥淛ournalists should not have to fear government retaliation, including prolonged detention, for reporting on government activity, and showing up to work should not result in your family being torn apart. Mario鈥檚 treatment should terrify any person in this country that cares about a free press.鈥�

The Eleventh Circuit鈥檚 denial comes after the Board of Immigration Appeals granted the government鈥檚 motion to reopen removal proceedings from thirteen years ago, denied Mario鈥檚 request to seek a green card for which he is eligible, and entered a final order of removal. Mr. Guevara鈥檚 son, who has overseen MGNews in Mr. Guevara鈥檚 absence, relies on his father for physical and emotional support after suffering a stroke while undergoing an operation for a brain tumor several years ago.

The 红杏视频 and 红杏视频 of Georgia previously sought Mr. Guevara鈥檚 release from retaliatory detention in a federal district court and asked the court in two emergency motions to release him. The court never decided either request.

鈥淢r. Guevara's deportation marks a sad day in Georgia where the rule of law is disregarded for a cruel and unjust policy,鈥� said Andres Lopez-Delgado, senior attorney with the 红杏视频 of Georgia.

The 红杏视频; the 红杏视频 of Georgia; the University of Georgia School of Law鈥檚 First Amendment Clinic; Garland, Samuel & Loeb, P.C.; and Diaz & Gaeta Law, LLC filed a habeas petition on August 20 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, arguing that Mr. Guevara鈥檚 continued detention violated the First and Fifth Amendments. The petition argues that his continued detention was retaliatory, amounted to a prior restraint on his future speech and reporting, and violates due process.