Immigration Activist Jeanette Vizguerra Detained by ICE in Colorado

AURORA, Colorado — Early Tuesday morning, protesters gathered outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Aurora following reports that immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra was taken into custody. Vizguerra was reportedly apprehended by federal agents on Monday morning outside her workplace at a Target store.

For over two decades, Vizguerra has been a prominent voice for the immigrant community. Originally from Mexico City, she arrived in the United States without proper documentation in 1997. Her family confirmed that the detention occurred while she was on a work break, prompting a wave of demonstrations from supporters seeking her release.

“In a way, I feel very angered and sad but very prepared as well. I’m just considering how long her case has been pending,” said Luna Baez, Vizguerra’s daughter. “Something we’ve had to plan for… for years.”

Vizguerra has fought for a path to citizenship since her arrival. In 2017, she sought refuge in a Denver church to avoid deportation, a situation that drew international attention. A stay of deportation was granted by the Biden administration in 2021, but the ongoing apprehensions by ICE raise concerns among her supporters about her future.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston condemned the detention, stating, “This is not immigration enforcement. This is Soviet-style persecution of political dissidents under the guise of immigration enforcement.” He emphasized that Vizguerra, as a mother of American citizens, poses no threat to community safety.

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet echoed similar sentiments, advocating for Vizguerra’s immediate release and access to legal representation. “Jeanette Vizguerra is a mother and pillar in her community. I am deeply concerned about ICE’s actions to detain her without due process,” he posted on social media.

According to an ICE spokesperson, Vizguerra has two misdemeanor convictions, including a traffic violation in 2009 where she was found driving without a license. During that encounter, it was revealed that she had used a false Social Security number to obtain employment.

Community organizations that have supported Vizguerra were quick to respond, stating, “Jeanette Vizguerra has been a pillar of the community for decades, advocating for immigrant rights and supporting countless families. Her detention is a cruel and unnecessary action that is causing irreparable harm to her family and community.”

In January, Vizguerra warned of the risks faced by undocumented immigrants. “Whatever place, I don’t care if it’s a hospital, I don’t care if it’s a school, I don’t care if it’s a church… Everybody is at risk,” she told local media. This perspective underlines the heightened scrutiny faced by immigrant communities under current immigration enforcement policies.

Vizguerra’s story is emblematic of the ongoing challenges encountered by undocumented immigrants in the United States, especially those advocating for reform. As protests continue outside the ICE facility, supporters are calling for her immediate release and justice for families impacted by similar detentions.