DENVER — Jeanette Vizguerra, a notable immigration and labor activist from Colorado, was released on Monday after spending nine months in immigration detention. This decision came after a judge ruled she could post a $5,000 bond, according to supporters from the American Friends Service Committee, who provided assistance alongside Vizguerra's family.
Upon her release, Vizguerra was celebrated by her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson just outside the Aurora detention center in Colorado.
Vizguerra rose to prominence during the first Trump administration when she took refuge in churches to evade deportation. In 2017, she was recognized as one of the world’s most influential people by Time magazine. Earlier this year, she was arrested in the parking lot of a Denver-area Target store where she was employed.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that Vizguerra has received 'full due process' and will continue enforcing immigration laws. The department affirmed its commitment to finding and deporting undocumented individuals, stating their authority remains intact, regardless of an individual’s public status.
Vizguerra has been fighting her deportation since 2009, stemming from an incident where she was found with a fraudulent Social Security card—an action she later contested, claiming she was unaware it belonged to another individual. Lawyers representing her have challenged the validity of the immigration orders against her.
A federal judge has recently mandated a bond hearing regarding her continued detention, allowing Vizguerra the temporary relief to reunite with her family. In her first statement post-release, Vizguerra expressed gratitude towards her legal team and highlighted the broader implications of her situation. 'This fight is bigger than me. This fight is about the constitutional rights we all share, human rights and dignity for all people,' she stated.
