“We finally got you.” These were the words allegedly spoken by ICE agents to Jeanette Vizguerra at the time of her arrest in Colorado. An activist for immigrant rights and mother of four children who are U.S. citizens, the activist is an internationally recognized figure: in 2017, Time magazine included her in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Her arrest sparked an outpouring of outrage, with local politicians and supporters denouncing it as an outright act of political persecution.
According to witnesses, ICE agents stopped the woman while she was in Denver; Vizguerra had noticed that unmarked vehicles had been following her for several days. The arrest took place amid protests from supporters, many of whom gathered outside the Aurora detention center to demand her release.
Reactions from local authorities came swiftly. Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston strongly condemned the operation, calling it a blatant crackdown disguised as the enforcement of immigration laws.
Johnston also stated that this was not an action for the safety of the community, but a form of intimidation against political dissenters. He further pointed out that Vizguerra has no significant criminal record and that her only “crime” dates back to 2009, when she pled guilty to using a fake Social Security number to be able to work.
The American Friends Service Committee, a non-governmental organization founded by the Quaker community in 1917 with the aim of promoting social justice, peace, and human rights, condemned the arrest, calling it “cruel and unnecessary.” According to the group, the activist, who has dedicated her life to defending immigrant families, is undergoing unjust detention that causes “irreparable harm” not only to her loved ones but to the entire community that has always supported her.
The detention of the activist is part of a broader context of growing rigidity in U.S. immigration policies. In recent months, ICE has intensified operations against undocumented immigrants, leading to an increase in detentions and deportations. The debate on the issue remains one of the most divisive in the country, with the federal administration justifying the operations as necessary for national security, while defenders of fundamental freedoms denounce a climate of fear and repression. The tightening of measures is having a significant impact on migrant communities, many of which live in constant fear of sudden arrests and family separations.
