Federal judge blocks deportation of illegal immigrant activist while legal system bends over backwards to accommodate her—despite 25+ years of unlawful presence and a forgery conviction.
Jeanette Vizguerra-Ramirez, an illegal immigrant who entered the United States in 1997 and has a conviction for possessing a forged Social Security card, has received a temporary reprieve from deportation. U.S. District Judge Nina Wang issued an injunction preventing ICE from removing Vizguerra-Ramirez, citing “unusual circumstances” and requesting the government justify why she shouldn’t be released. This case highlights the increasingly broken immigration enforcement system, where illegal immigrants with final deportation orders can remain in the country for decades by exploiting legal loopholes and gaining political support.
Activist Gets Special Treatment While American Citizens Play By The Rules
Let’s be crystal clear about what’s happening here: an illegal immigrant who entered our country unlawfully in 1997 and was convicted of a crime related to document forgery is being treated like some kind of protected class. While hardworking Americans follow the law and pay their taxes, Vizguerra-Ramirez has managed to stay in the country despite a deportation order that’s been on the books for years. Why? Because she became an “activist” and has powerful friends in high places willing to bend the system to her benefit.
The ICE office in Denver has stated plainly: “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.” Yet somehow, her attorneys are now claiming that no valid removal order exists. It’s the legal equivalent of saying the sky isn’t blue when everyone can clearly see that it is.
The Liberal Celebrity Treatment
Vizguerra-Ramirez isn’t just any illegal immigrant – she’s practically liberal royalty. Time magazine named her one of their 100 most influential people in 2017, effectively celebrating her defiance of U.S. immigration laws. She gained national attention for hiding out in Denver churches to avoid deportation during the Trump administration, when we actually attempted to enforce our immigration laws. Now she’s working at Target while pursuing a U visa, a form of immigration relief for crime victims – adding another layer to her strategy to avoid deportation.
“No lawful removal order exists, and ICE would have known this for years. If ICE proceeds with trying to remove her without legal authority, it sends a chilling message about the agency’s disregard for due process and the rule of law.” – Vizguerra’s lawyer Laura Lichter –
The absurdity of this statement is breathtaking. ICE is the agency being accused of disregarding the rule of law? ICE, which is literally tasked with enforcing immigration laws passed by Congress? Meanwhile, someone who entered the country illegally and used forged documents is portrayed as a victim. The mental gymnastics required to make this argument would win an Olympic gold medal.
Judicial Activism At Its Finest
Judge Wang’s decision is a textbook example of how our judiciary is increasingly making immigration policy from the bench rather than interpreting the law as written. In her ruling, Wang stated the case “raises complex issues about not only the legality of Ms. Vizguerra-Ramirez’s ICE detention under immigration law but also the jurisdictional interplay between district and appellate courts.” Translation: we’re going to find any technicality possible to prevent deportation of someone who has been illegally present for nearly three decades.
Oh, the “ends of justice”? What about justice for the American citizens who expect their government to enforce immigration laws? What about justice for the millions of immigrants who respect our laws enough to come here legally, often waiting years in the process? The “status quo” Judge Wang wants to preserve is precisely the problem – a dysfunctional system where deportation orders mean nothing and being an activist grants you special immunity from the law.
The Real Message Being Sent
The handling of Vizguerra-Ramirez’s case sends a dangerous message: if you enter illegally, have children here, become politically active, and fight deportation long enough, you’ll eventually wear down the system. Her supporters, including Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, argue she poses no public safety threat – as if that’s the only criterion for enforcing immigration law. By that logic, we should ignore all non-violent lawbreaking across the board.
This entire saga perfectly encapsulates why our immigration system is in shambles. When deportation orders can be stalled indefinitely, when activists receive celebrity treatment, and when judges bend over backwards to find reasons not to enforce the law, we don’t have a functioning immigration system at all. We have theater designed to look like enforcement while delivering the opposite. Meanwhile, the border crisis continues to spiral, with millions more crossing illegally, knowing full well that once they’re in, the odds of ever being removed are vanishingly small.
