1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I am writing to you with alarm and urgency. The U.S. government is actively seeking to deport journalist Mario Guevara, a move that is not only unjust but also a profound and direct violation of the First Amendment. This is an attack on our fundamental freedom of speech. Mario Guevara is an Emmy-winning journalist and a longtime resident of the Atlanta community. He is being punished for doing his job: reporting on and livestreaming law enforcement activity. The government's claim that this is "dangerous" is an outrageous pretext to silence journalism. This is a clear act of retaliation against a journalist for exercising his constitutional rights. If we allow this to happen, it sends a chilling message that the government can punish anyone who speaks out and holds power accountable. The freedom of the press is not a privilege; it is the cornerstone of our democracy. When the government can deport a journalist for his reporting, it means our own freedom of speech is under attack. We cannot allow this dangerous precedent to be set. Please use your full platform to stop this unconstitutional deportation. Please intervene immediately to ensure Mario Guevara is released and his (and all of our) constitutional rights are protected.