Immigrant activist Jeanette Vizguerra is expected to be released from an immigration detention center following a ruling by a Denver immigration judge. On December 3, 2023, Judge Brea Burgie granted Vizguerra bail set at $5,000, allowing her to return home without any additional restrictions, such as an ankle monitor. Her family plans to post the bond promptly, although Vizguerra is likely to remain in detention for another 24 to 48 hours.
The ruling comes after Vizguerra’s legal team argued that she poses neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community. The judge noted her “strong family and community ties” and her previous compliance with court proceedings as significant factors in her decision. Vizguerra has been detained in the Aurora detention center since her arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in March while she was at work.
In a statement, Jenn Piper, the program co-director for the American Friends Service Committee of Denver, emphasized the positive implications of the ruling, indicating that Vizguerra, a mother of four, will likely be home with her family by Christmas.
This latest development follows a bail hearing that occurred on December 1, 2023, which was mandated by a separate ruling from a federal judge. Once her family posts the bail amount, Vizguerra will be able to remain free while her legal battle against deportation continues in both immigration and federal courts.
Vizguerra has been a prominent figure in the fight for immigrant rights, gaining national attention during her years of sanctuary at a Denver church amid the harsh immigration policies of the Trump administration. In 2017, she was recognized as one of TIME magazine’s most influential people. Earlier this year, while still in detention, she received a humanitarian award from the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization.
Supporters of Vizguerra have maintained regular vigils outside the detention facility, highlighting the community’s strong backing for her cause. The upcoming release represents a significant moment not only for Vizguerra but also for the broader immigrant rights movement as it navigates complex legal challenges.
As Vizguerra prepares for her return home, the focus will remain on her ongoing legal efforts and the implications of her case for immigrant advocacy in the United States.
