‘They see the media as the enemy.’ A lesson from a deported journalist

Dear Friend of Press Freedom,

I’m starting this month with a roundup of notable incidents and updates — and there have been many — because I want you to get to spend some time with our interview with recently deported journalist Mario Guevara. Guevara, a veteran Spanish-language journalist and founder of MGNews, was deported to his native El Salvador on Oct. 3 after spending more than 100 days in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. In a nearly hour-long conversation with the Tracker, Guevara spoke across many topics, including how he had hope in the U.S. justice system even after the plane deporting him landed.

Notable updates and incidents

We’ve now documented more than 140 assaults on journalists — more than the last two years combined. Seventy-six of those assaults this year have been in Los Angeles, California; six on Oct. 18 during one day of “No Kings” protests in the city.

In just two months, there have been nearly 30 assaults of journalists around Chicago, Illinois. On Oct. 9, a group of Chicago-area journalists won a temporary restraining order that placed limits on protest policing tactics by federal law enforcement deployed in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois.

President Donald Trump also refiled his $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times and several of its reporters. In Washington, the majority of the Pentagon press corps refused to sign a loyalty pledge dictating how to report and lost access to the building. A “new” conservative press corps has since been named.

'I had hope until the last minute'

Two weeks after his Oct. 3 deportation, journalist Guevara spoke with Tracker reporter Briana Erickson via video call. They covered everything from Guevara’s June arrest while livestreaming a protest outside of Atlanta, Georgia, to ICE’s aggressiveness and how his journalism continues.

Below is an excerpt from that interview, which has been edited for clarity and length. Watch the full version here:

When did you realize that deportation was possible?

Honestly, I had hope until the last minute. You have to know, I was on the plane. The plane was arriving to El Salvador. When the plane arrived, I said, “Something will happen now.” Probably a high-level source or high-level government officer will text or call ICE and the plane, they will stop my deportation, and I will return to my second country with my family.

It’s not the way I want to come back to my country — deported like a criminal with nothing in my hand, only a bulletproof (vest) and helmet. I was frustrated, but until the last minute, I still had the hope to stay in the United States because I believe in the justice of the country.

Everything was different with me. Everything was different and horrible, because I'm a journalist.

When you first had your bail granted, did you think you’d be able to go home and fight your immigration case?

Yes. When the judge heard the testimony of my attorneys and all the proof in my favor, ICE told the judge I don't deserve bond because I was a danger for the community because I was following them, and I was reporting on the operation, putting at risk the life of the officer. That is not true.

But it's sad because I covered stories in the past where criminals — people suspected of murder — are out on bond, and it was frustrating to me because I never committed a crime, and they revoked my bond only because they are trying to keep me in jail.

So you were reporting while you were in the facility?

Yes, basically, I was working. I was doing journalism there, inside, sitting on the floor. When everybody was playing basketball, I was sitting, writing the stories of the people. And one by one, I have four stories. I have to follow them.

Did (ICE) ever talk about your reporting to you?

(One officer asked): “Why are you following us, why are you chasing us?” I tell him, “Don't worry, it's not personal. It's not personal against you. It's not personal against ICE. It's my job to inform my community.” But they said, “You give us a hard time.” Another officer told me, “Mario, after we arrested you, nobody is doing like you're doing.”

Even though they have their weapon or uniform, they are a person like me. I'm not scared of them, but I think they have also the power, they are abusing the power now. I was a victim of that.

How do you view press freedom in the United States now?

We are journalists, we are trying to be objective, but sometimes we have to report what’s going on. They can say, they can think, we are against them, even if it’s not true, and you can have retaliation for that. That was my case. Probably, I was the first one, but I don’t think I’ll be the only one.

What message does your case send to immigrant journalists, especially those covering ICE?

Just be careful, because ICE is very aggressive. They showed me they don’t care about journalism. They don't believe in the media. They believe the media is against them. They see the media as an enemy.

How has your perspective of journalism changed through this experience?

I think “journalist” is one of the most wonderful professions, but with people in power who think the media is an enemy, it’s not good. Because in the media, work is to report everything, good things, bad things, everything, it's our job.

Are you worried about reporting in El Salvador, considering your experiences before?

I'm optimistic, because when I came, they received me pretty well. I'm optimistic everything will be good here, hopefully. But, you know, after what happened to me in the United States, anything is possible.