DENVER (AP) — Jeanette Vizguerra, a prominent Colorado immigration and labor activist, was released on Monday after spending nine months in immigration detention. According to supporters, her release followed a judge's ruling that she could post a $5,000 bond.
Photographs released by the American Friends Service Committee show Vizguerra, a mother of four, joyfully reunited with her family just outside the detention center in Aurora, Colorado.
Vizguerra rose to prominence after seeking sanctuary in churches during the first Trump administration to avoid deportation. In 2017, her efforts were recognized by Time magazine, which named her one of the world's most influential people. Earlier this year, she was arrested in the parking lot of the Denver-area Target store where she worked.
Following her release, the Department of Homeland Security stated that Vizguerra had received 'full due process' while asserting its determination to find and deport undocumented individuals, regardless of public opinion.
Having migrated to Colorado from Mexico City in 1997, Vizguerra has been battling deportation since 2009, linked to a fraudulent Social Security card. Her lawyers argue that ICE is attempting to deport her based on an order that lacks a valid legal basis. Recent court actions have called for bond hearings to determine whether she should remain in detention.
In a statement to supporters, Vizguerra expressed gratitude to her legal team, thanking them for their support and reflecting on the broader implications of her case. 'This fight is about constitutional rights we all share, human rights and dignity for all people,' she stated.
