The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has urgently sought judicial intervention to halt the deportation of Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara, who remains in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite state charges being dropped. The recent decision by the US Board of Immigration Appeals effectively ended bond proceedings, intensifying the risk of deportation for Guevara, who was arrested during an anti-Trump demonstration in Georgia while livestreaming law enforcement and immigration officials.
Concerns surrounding Guevara’s detention stem from ICE’s claims that his filming endangered undercover officers, alongside allegations that he unlawfully entered the US in 2004. Contrasting these claims, the ACLU asserts that Guevara entered legally on a B-1 visa and cites his eligibility for permanent residency via his son. [Read more from JURIST](https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/09/aclu-seeks-emergency-relief-for-journalist-in-ice-custody-after-us-immigration-board-advances-deportation-efforts/).
Guevara’s legal journey with US immigration authorities is not new. Previous removal proceedings between 2007 and 2012 concluded when the Board of Immigration Appeals chose to close the case. However, this recent decision declares a past removal order against Guevara as final. As Guevara’s case is still active in federal court, his attorneys have filed an emergency motion seeking to stay his deportation.
This matter unfolds amid President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement policies, which have sparked substantial criticism domestically and internationally. Notably, South Korea launched an inquiry into the detention of over 300 of its nationals at a Georgia battery plant, while Illinois Governor JB Pritzker publicly criticized ICE transparency issues. Additionally, California implemented legislation restricting the use of face coverings by law enforcement, a directive yet to face judicial review.
These events underscore ongoing challenges and debates surrounding immigration policy under the current administration, pointing to broader concerns over due process and transparency in enforcement practices.