Reporter’s arrest–on charges that have since been dropped–poses grave threat to press freedom and the public’s right to know

New York, July 18, 2025—Lawyers representing Mario Guevara, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Free Press, and the Georgia First Amendment Foundation will hold a press conference on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 10 a.m. to reaffirm calls for the release of the Atlanta-based journalist from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.

The press conference will highlight the troubling implications Guevera’s case has for First Amendment rights in Georgia and across the nation. 

Guevara, an Emmy-winning, Spanish-language journalist, who frequently filmed ICE and law enforcement raids, was originally arrested on First Amendment-related charges while livestreaming a “No Kings” protest in an Atlanta suburb on June 14. He is currently the only journalist in custody in the U.S. whose arrest was in relation to the work of newsgathering.  

The journalist, who has lawfully resided in the U.S. for over 20 years, was placed in ICE custody on June 18 where he remains, despite being in the country legally.

Guevara arrived legally in the United States from El Salvador in April 2004. He has remained in the country lawfully since, applying for asylum in 2005 due to the dangers he faced as a journalist in El Salvador. Over the next twenty years, Guevara developed a large following in the Atlanta area, as well as national recognition, for his reporting on immigration issues.

WHO: 

Opening remarks from Senator Josh McLaurin and José Zamora, CPJ Americas Director 

Speakers:

• Giovanni Diaz, managing partner of Diaz & Gaeta and Mario Guevara’s lawyer 
• Katherine and Oscar Guevara, Mario Guevara’s children
• Katherine Jacobsen, CPJ’s U.S., Canada and Caribbean program coordinator
• Nora Benavidez, Free Press’ senior counsel and Georgia First Amendment Foundation board member

WHAT: Press conference on journalist Mario Guevara’s continued ICE detention

WHEN: Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 10 a.m. EDT. Please arrive ahead of time. ID required. 

WHERE: Georgia State Capitol, South Wing. 

RSVP: Please register here to attend.

###

About the Committee to Protect Journalists

The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide. We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.

Media contact: press@cpj.org
About Free Press

Free Press is a nonprofit organization that advocates for equitable access to technology, diverse and independent ownership of media platforms, and journalism that holds leaders accountable and tells people what’s actually happening in their communities.

Media contact: tkarr@freepress.net

This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by Committee to Protect Journalists.

This post was originally published on Radio Free.