ICE Finally Captures Radical Deportation-Dodging Activist

Jeanette Vizguerra’s recent arrest by ICE illustrates the ongoing tension between federal immigration enforcement and sanctuary city policies, raising questions about justice and political motivation.

Quick Takes

Jeanette Vizguerra was detained by ICE in Denver and taken to the GEO Aurora ICE Processing Center.
Her arrest prompted protests and criticism from Colorado officials.
ICE claims her deportation is justified due to her criminal status and previous re-entry violations.
Her legal team insists the removal order is procedurally flawed and politically charged.

The Arrest and Its Fallout

Jeanette Vizguerra, a radical left immigrant-rights activist and “convicted criminal alien,” was detained by ICE agents in Denver, Colorado, on March 18, 2025. She was arrested while working at a Target store and subsequently taken to the GEO Aurora ICE Processing Center. Her arrest has highlighted the longstanding conflict between federal immigration laws and sanctuary city policies. Vizguerra had previously gained national attention for residing in Denver churches to evade deportation during Donald Trump’s presidency.

Following her arrest, demonstrations erupted among her leftist supporters, echoing concerns about her treatment. At the forefront of the protests were Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who criticized ICE’s intervention. The mayor labeled the detention “Putin-style persecution of political dissidents,” underscoring the contentious nature of Vizguerra’s case.

Debate Over Legal Grounds

ICE defends its actions by citing a final deportation order, asserting that Vizguerra is a “convicted criminal alien” due to her illegal entry into the U.S. in 1997 and a 2009 misdemeanor conviction. Despite this, Vizguerra’s attorneys argue the removal order is legally flawed, having been reinstated in 2013 despite a voluntary departure grant in 2011. Her legal team challenges the validity of ICE’s actions and has filed an emergency petition attempting to contest the deportation proceedings.

Vizguerra’s attorneys, alongside her supporters, maintain that her detainment is politically motivated, seeking to penalize her outspoken activism against President Trump’s immigration policies. This view aligns with claims from entities like the League of United Latin American Citizens, which has decried her arrest as an attack on immigrant rights and free speech.

Immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra to appear in court after ICE detained her https://t.co/goTNuXZ4d0 pic.twitter.com/thPCvcQXMY

— FOX31 Denver KDVR (@KDVR) March 20, 2025

A National and Political Symbol

Jeanette Vizguerra first came to ICE’s attention in 2009 after being caught with a fake Social Security card. Despite multiple opportunities over the years to leave the U.S. voluntarily, her deportation order was reinstated during Trump’s administration, pushing her to seek sanctuary in a church. Her case became emblematic of the resistance movement against Trump’s immigration policies, and she was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People.

As the legal battle progresses, Vizguerra’s case remains a powerful focal point in the national discourse on immigration policy. It brings to the forefront critical questions about the balance of federal authority, local policies, and the human rights of immigrants in the United States.