CPJ joins legal effort to support detained journalist Mario Guevara

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined four press freedom groups—including Freedom of the Press Foundation, PEN America, and Reporters Without Borders—in an amicus brief supporting detained Spanish-language journalist Mario Guevara’s habeas corpus petition in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.

Guevara faces imminent deportation back to his native El Salvador. The brief, filed by media and democracy group Free Press, argues that Guevara’s more than 100-day detention creates a “widespread and profound” chilling effect against free speech and journalistic practices, especially filming law enforcement activity, after Guevara was arrested June 14 while livestreaming an Atlanta metro area “No Kings” protest against the Trump administration’s policies.

The parties attest that “law enforcement officials disliked Mr. Guevara’s reporting of their conduct, so they detained him,” and that such retaliation is a violation of Guevara’s First Amendment rights carried out to prevent his further reporting.

CPJ also filed a declaration in support of the habeas petition on August 20.

Read a copy of the amicus brief here.