A federal judge in Colorado recently issued an order preventing immigration officials from deporting Jeanette Vizguerra, an activist and illegal immigrant who has been advocating for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The injunction temporarily prevents local ICE officials, DHS Secretary, and the U.S. Attorney General from ordering Vizguerra's removal while her case is being considered by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Jeanette Vizguerra, a 53-year-old Mexican national, has been residing in the U.S. illegally for several years. After a deportation order was issued against her, she voluntarily left the U.S. in 2012, only to return illegally a year later. During her time in the U.S., Vizguerra has been an outspoken advocate for the abolition of ICE and for permissive immigration law reform.
Her arrest by ICE sparked national controversy, with many rushing to her defense, including Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who stated,
"This is not immigration enforcement. This is Soviet-style political persecution of political dissidents under the guise of immigration enforcement."
The injunction order, issued by U.S. District Judge Nina Wang, stated,
"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."
The order stipulates that government officials "shall not remove" Vizguerra until the court or the 10th Circuit vacates the order.
However, Andrew Arthur, a former immigration judge and policy expert at the Center for Immigration Studies, told Fox News Digital that Vizguerra's case is not complex. He said,
"This is a woman who unlawfully entered the United States twice. … She is subject to removal from the United States, and she is removable. Simply because she has spoken out against the immigration policies in the United States doesn't render her immune from removal."
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has voiced his criticisms against federal judges who have ruled against his administration. In posts on Truth Social, he labeled these judges as "radical left judges" and called for a halt of nationwide injunctions.
He wrote,
"STOP NATIONWIDE INJUNCTIONS NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. If Justice Roberts and the United States Supreme Court do not fix this toxic and unprecedented situation IMMEDIATELY, our Country is in very serious trouble!"
The Trump administration has claimed that judges are using nationwide injunctions to slow down the President's agenda and override his executive powers. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused these judges of being “partisan activists.”
She said,
"They are trying to dictate policy from the president of the United States. They are trying to clearly slow-walk this administration’s agenda, and it’s unacceptable."
According to the Harvard Law Review, Trump faced 64 injunctions in his first term in office, a number significantly higher than any president since 2001. The Justice Department is currently awaiting the Supreme Court’s ruling on a request to narrow orders from several judges who have blocked Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order from taking effect nationwide.