DENVER — A federal court in Denver is poised to consider the case of Jeanette Vizguerra, an immigrant and labor organizer who has sought sanctuary in Colorado churches to evade deportation orders that originated during President Donald Trump’s tenure. The hearing set for Friday might determine whether Vizguerra will be released from the immigration detention facility where she has been held since her March 17 arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Vizguerra, a Mexican national who entered the U.S. without authorization in 1997, has been detained pending deportation. ICE has stated that Vizguerra has undergone the full legal process in U.S. immigration courts and holds a final deportation order. However, Vizguerra’s attorneys contend that the order is invalid and are urging U.S. District Judge Nina Wang to mandate her release.
Complicating the legal proceedings, Judge Wang has temporarily blocked Vizguerra’s deportation amid ongoing litigation, recognizing the complex legal questions involved. ICE’s attempts to deport Vizguerra date back to 2009 under the Obama administration, following an incident where she was caught with a fraudulent Social Security card. Despite the card bearing her name and birthdate, it was linked to another individual’s social security number. Vizguerra’s 2019 lawsuit claims she was unaware of the discrepancy.
Facing a removal order in 2012, Vizguerra chose to leave the U.S. voluntarily to visit her dying mother, rather than wait for forced removal. According to her legal representatives, because Vizguerra left the country of her own accord and subsequently returned, ICE lacks a standing removal order to enforce.
The timeline for Judge Wang’s decision remains unclear, yet she has acknowledged the unique nature and complexity of the case, which seems to have limited precedents in immigration law. This case not only highlights individual disputes within the immigration system but also underscores broader debates over the treatment of undocumented immigrants and the exercise of prosecutorial discretion.
As the legal community and public await a ruling, the outcome of Vizguerra’s case could have broader implications for how similar cases are handled in the future, potentially influencing immigration enforcement practices and the rights of individuals claiming sanctuary in religious establishments.
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