Background
Jeanette Vizguerra was born in Mexico.
Jeanette Vizguerra
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra leads fellow demonstrators in a protest outside a Wells Fargo bank branch on July 1, 2011 in Aurora, Colorado. A coalition of immigrant advocacy groups staged a "national day of action" march to Wells Fargo branches. They say that Wells Fargo is a major shareholder in the private prison company GEO Group, Inc, which houses thousands of undocumented immigrants, many scheduled for deportation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, (ICE). The rights groups called on bank clients to close their Wells Fargo bank accounts in protest. Vizguerra herself is scheduled for a final federal deportation hearing July 13 and could possibly be deported back to Mexico. (June 30, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra weeps after a tough immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. At the hearing, the court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra (L), her husband Salvador and their children Luna, 7, and Roberto, 5, leave their Aurora apartment building for an immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Aurora, Colorado. At the hearing, the court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra (L), her husband Salvador and their children Luna, 7, and Roberto, 5, walk to her immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. At the hearing, the court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra (L), her husband Salvador and their children Luna, 7, and Roberto, 5, walk to her immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. At the hearing, the court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra is comforted by pastor Anne Dunlop after Vizguerra's tough immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra speaks to supporters after her immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. At the hearing, the court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra is comforted by pastor Anne Dunlop after Vizguerra's tough immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra (L), her husband Salvador and their children Luna, 7, and Roberto, 5, walk to her immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. At the hearing, the court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra (L), dines with her family on July 10, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Vizguerra, a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens, is facing a deportation hearing July 13 at Denver's Federal Courthouse. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 9, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2016
Denver, Colorado, United States
Pro-immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra of Denver, Colorado, takes part in a rally with her nine-year-old son Flannery Wasson in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on April 18, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case of United States v. Texas, which is challenging President Obama's 2014 executive actions on immigration - the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) programs. (April 17, 2016 - Source: Alex Wong/Getty Images North America)
2017
1400 N Lafayette St, Denver, CO 80218, USA
Undocumented immigrant and activist Jeanette Vizguerra, 45, addresses supporters and the media while seeking sanctuary at First Unitarian Church on February 15, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. Vizguerra, who has been working the United States for some 20 years, and her children will be living in a room in the basement of the church hoping to avoid deportation after the local office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied a stay of her case which would lead to her immediate deportation. (Feb. 14, 2017 - Source: Marc Piscotty/Getty Images North America)
2017
1400 N Lafayette St, Denver, CO 80218, USA
Undocumented immigrant and activist Jeanette Vizguerra, 45, addresses supporters and the media while seeking sanctuary at First Unitarian Church on February 15, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. Vizguerra, who has been working the United States for some 20 years, and her children will be living in a room in the basement of the church hoping to avoid deportation after the local office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied a stay of her case which would lead to her immediate deportation. (Feb. 14, 2017 - Source: Marc Piscotty/Getty Images North America)
2017
1400 N Lafayette St, Denver, CO 80218, USA
Undocumented immigrant and activist Jeanette Vizguerra, 45, addresses supporters and the media while seeking sanctuary at First Unitarian Church on February 15, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. Vizguerra, who has been working the United States for some 20 years, and her children will be living in a room in the basement of the church hoping to avoid deportation after the local office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied a stay of her case which would lead to her immediate deportation. (Feb. 14, 2017 - Source: Marc Piscotty/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra leads fellow demonstrators in a protest outside a Wells Fargo bank branch on July 1, 2011 in Aurora, Colorado. A coalition of immigrant advocacy groups staged a "national day of action" march to Wells Fargo branches. They say that Wells Fargo is a major shareholder in the private prison company GEO Group, Inc, which houses thousands of undocumented immigrants, many scheduled for deportation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, (ICE). The rights groups called on bank clients to close their Wells Fargo bank accounts in protest. Vizguerra herself is scheduled for a final federal deportation hearing July 13 and could possibly be deported back to Mexico. (June 30, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra weeps after a tough immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. At the hearing, the court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra (L), her husband Salvador and their children Luna, 7, and Roberto, 5, leave their Aurora apartment building for an immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Aurora, Colorado. At the hearing, the court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra (L), her husband Salvador and their children Luna, 7, and Roberto, 5, walk to her immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. At the hearing, the court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra (L), her husband Salvador and their children Luna, 7, and Roberto, 5, walk to her immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. At the hearing, the court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra is comforted by pastor Anne Dunlop after Vizguerra's tough immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra speaks to supporters after her immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. At the hearing, the court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra is comforted by pastor Anne Dunlop after Vizguerra's tough immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra (L), her husband Salvador and their children Luna, 7, and Roberto, 5, walk to her immigration hearing in federal court on July 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. At the hearing, the court said it would not release it's verdict on her possible deportation until October, leaving her and her family in continued uncertainty. Vizguerra is a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 12, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2011
Denver, Colorado, United States
Undocumented Mexican immigrant Jeanette Vizguerra (L), dines with her family on July 10, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Vizguerra, a mother of four children, three of whom were born in the U.S. as American citizens, is facing a deportation hearing July 13 at Denver's Federal Courthouse. If Vizguerra is deported back to Mexico, she says her husband and children will stay on in the United States. Just one of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., Vizguerra first came to Colorado from Mexico City with her husband and first child 14 years before. Now an activist for the immigration advocate group Rights For All People, she also owns a janitorial service and says she has always paid state and federal taxes on her income. Some two years ago she was stopped by a traffic policemen for driving with expired tags and taken to jail when she could not prove her legal immigration status. Out on bail during court proceedings, she now faces the real possibility that she will be deported to Mexico and separated from her family in the United States. (July 9, 2011 - Source: John Moore/Getty Images North America)
2016
Denver, Colorado, United States
Pro-immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra of Denver, Colorado, takes part in a rally with her nine-year-old son Flannery Wasson in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on April 18, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case of United States v. Texas, which is challenging President Obama's 2014 executive actions on immigration - the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) programs. (April 17, 2016 - Source: Alex Wong/Getty Images North America)
2017
1400 N Lafayette St, Denver, CO 80218, USA
Undocumented immigrant and activist Jeanette Vizguerra, 45, addresses supporters and the media while seeking sanctuary at First Unitarian Church on February 15, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. Vizguerra, who has been working the United States for some 20 years, and her children will be living in a room in the basement of the church hoping to avoid deportation after the local office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied a stay of her case which would lead to her immediate deportation. (Feb. 14, 2017 - Source: Marc Piscotty/Getty Images North America)
2017
1400 N Lafayette St, Denver, CO 80218, USA
Undocumented immigrant and activist Jeanette Vizguerra, 45, addresses supporters and the media while seeking sanctuary at First Unitarian Church on February 15, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. Vizguerra, who has been working the United States for some 20 years, and her children will be living in a room in the basement of the church hoping to avoid deportation after the local office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied a stay of her case which would lead to her immediate deportation. (Feb. 14, 2017 - Source: Marc Piscotty/Getty Images North America)
2017
1400 N Lafayette St, Denver, CO 80218, USA
Undocumented immigrant and activist Jeanette Vizguerra, 45, addresses supporters and the media while seeking sanctuary at First Unitarian Church on February 15, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. Vizguerra, who has been working the United States for some 20 years, and her children will be living in a room in the basement of the church hoping to avoid deportation after the local office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied a stay of her case which would lead to her immediate deportation. (Feb. 14, 2017 - Source: Marc Piscotty/Getty Images North America)
Jeanette Vizguerra
Jeanette Vizguerra
Jeanette Vizguerra
Jeanette Vizguerra with children
Jeanette Vizguerra was born in Mexico.
Jeanette entered the United States from Mexico illegally in 1997 with her husband and eldest daughter, then age 6. That daughter, now grown, lives in the United States and has a work permit under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Her three youngest children were all born in the United States. According to The New York Times, Vizguerra began working when she came to the U.S. as a janitor and a union organizer.
Vizguerra has two misdemeanor convictions in the United States. She secured documents with a phony Social Security number with intent to use the papers to get a job, but was caught before she could use them. In 2013 - two years after a federal immigration judge issued final orders of deportation - she was caught entering the country unlawfully after going to Mexico for her mother’s funeral.
In all, ICE has granted Vizguerra six stays of removal since her original final removal order was issued on November 18, 2011. A stay of removal temporarily halts the deportation process and typically is issued to allow people time to prepare to leave the country.
Vizguerra began living in the basement of the First Unitarian Society of Denver around the New Year after a latest stay of deportation in her case was denied. Seeking sanctuary in a church, a tradition dating to the Middle Ages, has been accepted in America for generations, with government officials, in most instances, honoring the practice.
Jeanette supports the rights of Immigrants.
Quotations: “I have so many emotions going through me,” Vizguerra told reporters at a news conference on Thursday, speaking in Spanish with emotion. “This has been a 20-year journey. … This what people who are in my situation, so many people in my situation, have to go through.”
Quotes from others about the person
A short biography about Vizguerra on the magazine’s website, written by actress America Ferrera, says “she shed blood, sweat and tears to become a business owner, striving to give her children more opportunities than she had. This is not a crime. This is the American Dream.”
“TIME was wise to name Jeannette to its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world because she leads by example at a time when immigrants are being demonized in this country,” DeGette said in a written statement. “Jeanette has been a clarion voice for the rights of others, is widely respected in her community and, during her two decades here, has contributed to civil society in many ways. She should not have to face the threat of deportation. I hope this renewed and higher-profile interest in her situation will help lead to a just resolution.”
Jeanette married Salvador Vizguerra. They have four children.
