A federal judge in Denver has mandated that immigration authorities provide detained activist Jeanette Vizguerra with a bail hearing before December 24, 2023. This ruling offers a potential path for her temporary release after spending over nine months in federal immigration detention.
U.S. District Court Judge Nina Wang issued the order on Wednesday, requiring that Vizguerra be given the opportunity to seek bail before an immigration judge at the detention center in Aurora. Her hearing is scheduled for Friday morning, according to her attorney, Laura Lichter.
Background of the Case
Vizguerra, who was arrested in March, has been fighting the efforts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain and deport her. She is an immigrant without proper legal status and has lived in the United States for more than 30 years. Throughout her time in the country, she has persistently resisted deportation attempts, including accepting a voluntary departure in 2011.
Her advocacy work gained significant attention when she sought sanctuary in a Denver church during the first term of the Trump administration. In recognition of her activism, TIME magazine named her one of the most influential people of 2017. After leaving the church, she received temporary reprieves from ICE, but her situation sharply changed in March 2020 when she was arrested. Her attorneys argue that this arrest was a direct response to her advocacy, raising serious concerns over her due process rights.
Implications of the Ruling
If granted bail during her upcoming hearing, Vizguerra would be released from detention while her immigration case continues through the courts. Judge Wang noted that the legal proceedings surrounding her deportation could take “many months or even years” to resolve fully.
During the hearing, Vizguerra’s allegations of being targeted because of her advocacy were highlighted as raising significant due process issues. Her detention has been a point of contention, with some ICE agents reportedly celebrating her arrest and suggesting that it was a long-awaited success. One agent allegedly stated, “We finally got you.”
As her case develops, the implications extend beyond Vizguerra, touching on broader issues of immigration policy and the rights of activists. The upcoming bail hearing could be pivotal in determining her immediate future and the ongoing debate surrounding immigration enforcement practices in the United States.
