Spanish-Language Journalist Mario Guevara To Remain in ICE Custody, Judge Seeks More Briefing

Despite hopes for Guevara’s release, a federal magistrate requested additional legal filings before ruling.

By Nick Valencia | August 27, 2025

ATLANTA— A federal magistrate judge questioned whether the government still has a legal basis to keep Spanish language journalist Mario Guevara in custody, but asked for more legal fillings before ruling.

Guevara, who is already the fifth longest held journalist in U.S. history, will remain in federal immigration detention where he has been for 74 days.

After the Wednesday hearing, the judge asked both sides to submit additional legal briefs and, according to family members present, set up a follow-up hearing—leaving Guevara in custody for now.

“They are basically setting another court hearing for both parties to submit more legal briefs … I guess the judge felt like he needed additional information or clarification before deciding,” Katherine Guevara, Mario’s daughter, told Nick Valencia News after the hearing.

Where the case stands

DeKalb County prosecutors dismissed the protest-related charges against Guevara within days of his initial arrest, but ICE took custody of Guevara and has kept him detained.

An immigration judge set $7,500 bond last month, but the government appealed, which has kept Guevara behind bars pending that review.

In federal court, Guevara’s attorneys—joined by the ACLU—argue his confinement violates the First and Fifth Amendment rights and amounts to punishment for protected newsgathering, including livestreaming law-enforcement activity. The government says he’s detained solely because of immigration status and removability.

Press-freedom advocates warn that holding a working journalist in civil immigration detention after criminal charges are dropped risks chilling newsgathering—especially reporting that scrutinizes law-enforcement operations. The Committee to Protect Journalists has filed supporting papers, calling the detention alarming and urging his release.

Until then, Guevara remains in Folkston, GA, as his family and supporters continue to press for his release.