A federal judge has temporarily stopped the deportation of an illegal immigrant activist who was once celebrated by liberal media. How can judges keep getting away with blocking direct orders from the President?
At a glance:
- US District Judge Nina Wang issued an injunction preventing ICE from deporting immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra-Ramirez
- Vizguerra-Ramirez entered the US illegally in 1997 and has a conviction for possessing a forged Social Security card
- Her attorneys claim no valid removal order exists, while ICE maintains she has a final deportation order
- Vizguerra-Ramirez previously gained national attention for hiding in Denver churches to avoid deportation
- She was arrested by ICE on March 17 at a Target store in Denver where she worked
Liberal Judge Blocks Deportation of Illegal Immigrant With Criminal Record
US District Judge Nina Wang has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) not to remove Jeanette Vizguerra-Ramirez, an illegal immigrant activist with a criminal history. The judge’s decision comes despite ICE’s confirmation that Vizguerra-Ramirez has been under a final deportation order for years.
ICE officials stated clearly that Vizguerra-Ramirez “illegally entered the United States near El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 24, 1997, and has received legal due process in U.S. immigration court.”
Immigration Activist With Criminal Past Fighting Deportation
According to ICE, Vizguerra-Ramirez is a “convicted criminal alien” stemming from a 1999 conviction for possessing a forged Social Security card. Despite this criminal background, liberal groups and politicians have rallied around her cause, with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston arguing she poses no threat to public safety.
“Vizguerra has a final order of deportation issued by a federal immigration judge. She illegally entered the United States near El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 24, 1997, and has received legal due process in U.S. immigration court,” the Denver ICE office stated clearly.
After years of evading authorities, Vizguerra-Ramirez was finally apprehended by ICE agents on March 17 at a Target store in Denver where she worked. She is currently being held at a detention facility in Aurora, Colorado, while her case proceeds.
Legal Battle Continues As Immigration System Faces Scrutiny
Judge Wang has requested the US government to justify why Vizguerra-Ramirez should not be released, with a response due by March 24. The judge cited “unusual circumstances” in her decision to halt the deportation, a move that many critics see as judicial activism interfering with immigration enforcement.
“In light of these unusual circumstances, this court respectfully concludes that an injunction is necessary to preserve the status quo and permit this court the opportunity to thoughtfully consider the issues raised by both sides to achieve the ends of justice entrusted to this court,” Wang wrote in her decision.
Vizguerra-Ramirez gained national attention during the Trump administration for seeking refuge in Denver churches to avoid deportation. She was even named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2017, showing how the liberal media celebrates those who defy our immigration laws.
The last ICE-issued deportation reprieve for Vizguerra-Ramirez expired in February 2024, which prompted ICE to finally take action and detain her. A hearing is scheduled for March 28, with federal officials ordered to respond by March 24 to the judge’s questions about the case.
