Mario Guevara Seeks a Fresh Start After His Deportation to El Salvador

Journalist Mario Guevara deported

Vows to start from zero

Claims retaliation for his work

Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara, deported from the United States on Friday, told CNN on Saturday that he plans to “start from zero” in his homeland and continue with his project Noticias MG, a platform that shares information through its website and social media channels.

In an interview with Mirador Mundial on CNN en Español, Guevara said he arrived in El Salvador “humiliated” and “feeling low,” after leaving behind his family and most of his belongings accumulated during the 22 years he lived in the United States.

Throughout his career, Guevara gained recognition within the Latino community for his coverage of immigration raids and stories highlighting immigrant rights.

Mario Guevara Deported and His Return to El Salvador

Mario Guevara, a journalist deported from the U.S., told CNN he intends to “start from zero” in El Salvador https://t.co/OC4C3OmUJU

— CNN en Español (@CNNEE) October 5, 2025

His arrest took place in June while covering a protest against President Donald Trump in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

Authorities charged him with improper pedestrian conduct, obstruction of law enforcement, and unlawful assembly.

RELATED: Does Mario Guevara Have a Chance to Return to the United States?

Although the charges were dismissed in July, Guevara remained in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Detention and Legal Process of Mario Guevara

Mario Guevara Seeks a Fresh Start After His Deportation to El Salvador – OLOCUILTA (EL SALVADOR), 03/10/2025. Journalist Mario Guevara speaks on the phone Friday in Olocuilta, El Salvador. Guevara arrived after being deported from the U.S., where he spent more than three months in detention despite being cleared of all charges following his arrest while covering a protest against President Donald Trump and immigration raids. Photo: EFE/Rodrigo Sura

Guevara explained that he had a valid permit to reside and work in the U.S., but the Board of Immigration Appeals upheld a deportation order issued in 2012 after his legal status request was denied.

Despite his lawyers’ efforts, a federal appeals court rejected his emergency petition this week, and he was ultimately deported on a flight from Louisiana to El Salvador.

“We couldn’t beat Goliath,” Guevara said, describing the legal battle lost against the U.S. immigration system.

The journalist admitted he never imagined being deported and, ironically, now finds himself at the center of the very stories he used to report.

White House Reaction and the Journalist’s Defense

Mario Guevara believes his deportation was an act of retaliation for his journalistic work, particularly his coverage of immigration raids and enforcement operations.

The White House, however, defended the decision, arguing that Guevara was an undocumented immigrant with an active deportation order.

During his conversation with CNN, Guevara rejected those claims, insisting that the government’s statements “are not true.”

Since arriving in El Salvador, Mario Guevara says he has felt supported by local authorities and hopeful about building a new life.

“They made me feel at home,” he said. “I’m hopeful about starting over, doing things better, and not repeating the mistakes of the past.”

His case has been highlighted by human rights organizations as a symbol of the Trump administration’s immigration policy.