Spanish-language Atlanta journalist Mario Guevara still in ICE custody

ATLANTA - Community leaders, journalists, and lawmakers gathered Tuesday at the Georgia State Capitol to demand the release of veteran journalist Mario Guevara, who has remained in ICE custody for more than five weeks despite being granted bond by an immigration judge.

Rallying around journalist Mario Guevara

What we know:

Guevara, a longtime Spanish-language reporter, was arrested in June while covering an anti-immigration raid protest in DeKalb County. Although all related charges, including separate misdemeanor traffic offenses filed later in Gwinnett County, have since been dropped, ICE attorneys filed an appeal that blocked his release.

His continued detention has sparked outcry across Georgia and beyond. Supporters say the case raises serious concerns about press freedom and immigration enforcement practices.

Journalists, lawmakers and civil rights advocates joined the Guevara family Tuesday to call for his release and denounce what they see as a troubling precedent for press freedom in the United States.

Mario Guevara's attorney holds press conference

What they're saying:

"This process has been extremely complicated and difficult every step of the way," Guevara’s daughter said during an emotional news conference. "We don’t know what to tell people when they ask where he is. We don’t know how to explain how something like this could happen."

Guevara has lived in the United States for more than 20 years and has no criminal record, according to his attorney.

"My dad did nothing wrong. He was arrested while wearing a press badge. He was livestreaming. He wasn't in the way… he wasn't breaking any law. He was doing his job," she said. "Our family has felt an emptiness that we cannot begin to fill. My mom is exhausted. My brothers and I feel like we're stuck in a nightmare."

"This case is about more than one man," said state Sen. Josh McLaurin, D-Sandy Springs, at the event. "It’s about the right of journalists to do their jobs and the rights of immigrant families to be treated with dignity and fairness."

"Mario Guevara is a journalist. And so his detention raises even bigger questions about civil rights, constitutional rights, the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press," McLaurin said.

Advocates emphasized that Guevara’s arrest and detention could have a chilling effect on press coverage of immigration issues and protests.

The family, joined by supporters from immigrant rights groups and the media, vowed to keep fighting for his release and called on federal officials to drop the appeal and honor the judge’s bond decision.

"Mario is clearly eligible for bond. Mario has no criminal history in the United States. Mario has been here for 20 plus years," said his attorney, Giovanni Diaz.

Guevara remains detained as of Tuesday, with no clear timeline for a resolution.

RELATED: Georgia among top states as non-criminal ICE arrests surge around country

The Georgia First Amendment Foundation echoed that concern. "Mario Guevara's detention sends a chilling message to anyone who might want to exercise their rights. And it is a rejection of the very premise this country was founded," said Nora Benavidez, a representative of the organization.

Mario Guevara arrested

The backstory:

Guevara, a veteran Spanish-language reporter who fled violence in El Salvador and has lived in Georgia for more than 20 years, was arrested June 14 while covering a demonstration near Stone Mountain. Video of the incident showed him wearing a helmet and press vest, documenting the protest live. Charges filed by DeKalb County — including obstruction and unlawful assembly — were later dropped when the solicitor-general found no evidence of wrongdoing.

On July 1, an immigration judge approved Guevara’s release on bond. But ICE attorneys filed a stay and appeal, effectively blocking it — a move his legal team says was not disclosed until after the family attempted to post bond.

Guevara was subsequently transferred to the Gwinnett County Jail on misdemeanor traffic charges, which were dismissed.

ICE detention in Georgia

Dig deeper:

Earlier this month, Giovanni Diaz, Guevara's attorney, told FOX 5 that inmates at Atlanta’s Federal Correctional Institution had attempted to extort the journalist's family using a burner phone.

"This was not a coincidence," Diaz said. "They housed him in general population in a federal penitentiary, where he was unprotected, and then he was extorted. We made ICE aware, and he was moved within 36 hours."

SEE MORE: Journalist detained by ICE in Atlanta appeals for help from El Salvador

The attorney also said he believes that officials in Gwinnett County have worked in coordination with ICE to keep Guevara behind bars.

"In my opinion, Gwinnett played a role in this, and they used every tool they had to delay his release," Diaz said. "The charges have now been dismissed, and yet he remains in detention while ICE appeals a bond decision that should have resulted in his release nearly two weeks ago."

Immigration appeal

What's next:

Guevara’s legal team has asked the Board of Immigration Appeals to dismiss ICE’s appeal and allow bond to proceed. If not resolved soon, Diaz said federal litigation may follow.

Gwinnett CountyImmigrationNews