Jeanette Vizguerra speaks at Colorado Capitol in Denver on Feb. 3, 2025 for the national “A Day Without Immigrants” demonstration, a response to President Donald Trump’s policies that target the immigrant community. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
A federal judge on Friday ordered that immigration officials cannot deport Jeanette Vizguerra, the Denver immigration rights activist arrested earlier this week, before a hearing in the case scheduled for next week.
Vizguerra sometimes goes by Jeanette Vizguerra-Ramirez.
“Given the fact that Ms. Vizguerra-Ramirez was recently taken into ICE custody, it does not appear that there will be any prejudice to Respondents by maintaining the status quo pending resolution of this action, particularly given the expedited manner by which this action is proceeding,” the order from United States District Judge Nina Wang said.
A hearing is set for the afternoon of March 28.
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Vizguerra was taken into custody on March 17, and her lawyers immediately filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in federal court. Respondents listed in the petition include local immigration officials, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Krisi Noem and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. That petition argues that Vizguerra’s detainment is illegal, because there is not a current and valid order of removal against her.
Wang wrote that the reinstatement of a removal order from years ago against Vizguerra, who is originally from Mexico, is “procedurally flawed.”
A deadline for the government’s lawyers to explain why they detained Vizguerra and want to deport her is set for Monday.
Vizguerra has lived in the United States since 1997. She was convicted in 2009 for driving without a license and not having car insurance, which set off her struggle against deportation. She gained national attention in 2017 when she sought sanctuary in a Denver church to avoid deportation during the first Trump administration.
Her arrest prompted deep criticism from local Democratic elected officials, including Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who called the arrest “Putin-style” political persecution.
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