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Activist mother Jeanette Vizguerra held 9 months after ICE reinstates disputed removal order

Dec 19, 2025·Location: Aurora, CO

Country of origin: Mexico

Activist mother Jeanette Vizguerra held 9 months after ICE reinstates disputed removal order
Photo via CourtListener

Jeanette Vizguerra-Ramirez, a 43-year-old Mexican immigrant rights activist who has lived in the U.S. since 1997 and is the mother of four daughters (three U.S. citizens), was detained by ICE in a Target parking lot on March 17, 2025, the day after she marched in a protest against federal immigration policies. In 2011 an Immigration Judge denied her cancellation of removal but granted voluntary departure; she appealed, but in 2012 traveled to Mexico to see her dying mother, which was treated as a withdrawal of her appeal. She returned to the U.S. in 2013 without inspection and was later apprehended; ICE then issued a document purporting to reinstate her prior removal order. She filed a federal habeas corpus petition on March 18, 2025, arguing the reinstatement was procedurally deficient and that no valid removal order supports her detention, and a judge barred her removal from Colorado or the U.S. while the case proceeds. After nine months in custody at the GEO Group's Aurora facility, her attorney argued before Immigration Judge Brea Burgie that she was denied a bond hearing for 180 days because of the administration's disapproval of her activism and that she is not a flight risk given her daughters, one of whom recently joined the Air Force and had sought immigration relief on her mother's behalf, which the government denied. The judge did not rule immediately. Vizguerra has previously taken sanctuary in a Denver church and been named one of Time's 100 most influential people.

Timeline

Dec 19, 2025—Appeared before Immigration Judge Brea Burgie at Aurora facility seeking bond after 9 months in custody; judge did not rule immediately
Mar 18, 2025—Filed federal habeas corpus petition challenging reinstatement of removal order and arguing no valid removal order supports detention
Mar 17, 2025—Detained by ICE in a Target parking lot, a day after marching in a protest against federal immigration policies; held at GEO Group's Aurora ICE Processing Center
Aug 8, 2013—ICE granted a stay of removal, repeatedly extended since
Jul 24, 2013—ICE issued Form I-871 purporting to reinstate her prior removal order
Apr 1, 2013—Returned to U.S. without inspection and was later apprehended
Sep 1, 2012—Traveled to Mexico to see her dying mother while appeal of voluntary departure order was pending, treated as withdrawal of appeal
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