Mexican Immigration Activist Arrested by ICE After Years in Colorado Church Sanctuary

AURORA, Colo. — A prominent Mexican immigration activist, who spent years living in a Colorado church to evade deportation, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday, marking a significant development in her long-standing battle to remain in the United States. Jeanette Vizguerra, a mother of four and a well-known advocate for immigrant rights, was taken into custody in Aurora, a Denver suburb, reigniting debates over immigration enforcement policies under the current administration.

Vizguerra, who has resided in Colorado for nearly three decades, gained national attention during former President Donald Trump’s first term when she sought sanctuary in Denver’s First Unitarian Society Church in 2017. Facing a deportation order stemming from a 2009 traffic violation that triggered immigration proceedings, she lived in the church for over three years, becoming a symbol of resistance against deportation efforts. Her activism grew during this period, leading her to establish the Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition, a network designed to protect immigrants fearing removal.

The arrest occurred outside a Target store where Vizguerra worked, according to the American Friends Service Committee, a faith-based nonprofit supporting immigrant rights. ICE agents reportedly detained her during a break, an action her family claims was accompanied by dismissive behavior from the officers. She is currently being held at a privately-run ICE detention facility in Aurora, though advocates fear she could soon be transferred out of state.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston condemned the arrest, calling it “Soviet-style persecution” of political dissidents and questioning its impact on community safety. “This is not someone with a criminal record. This is a mom of American citizens who works at Target,” Johnston said in a statement on Tuesday. “This is not immigration enforcement; it’s an abuse of power.” Colorado Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, both Democrats, echoed these sentiments, urging ICE to release Vizguerra and ensure her access to legal counsel.

Vizguerra’s legal troubles date back to 2013, when she was arrested by ICE in El Paso, Texas, following a voluntary return to Mexico in 2012. Released at the time due to shifting agency priorities, she later faced renewed deportation threats. During her sanctuary period, Colorado lawmakers, including then-Congressman Jared Polis—now the state’s governor—introduced legislation to shield her from removal, securing temporary reprieves that expired in 2019. Her activism, including public criticism of Trump’s immigration policies, has led some to speculate that her arrest may be retaliatory.

ICE has not officially commented on Vizguerra’s detention, leaving questions about the legal basis for her arrest unanswered. The move follows a January announcement from the Department of Homeland Security reversing Biden-era restrictions on enforcement actions near “sensitive locations” like churches, a policy shift that has drawn lawsuits from advocacy groups.

As news of Vizguerra’s arrest spread, supporters gathered outside the Aurora facility on Tuesday, holding signs demanding her release. The incident underscores the escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the U.S., particularly as the Trump administration pursues an aggressive deportation agenda. For Vizguerra, once named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2017, the arrest marks a new chapter in a decades-long fight to remain in the country she has called home. 17GEN4.com