Undocumented immigrant takes sanctuary in Denver church

World Today

The Trump administration’s new policies will have a major impact on undocumented immigrants. Those who have broken the law will most likely be deported.

One undocumented woman in Denver has decided to taken refuge in a church.

CGTN’s Hendrik Sybrandy reports.

First Unitarian Society of Denver has a full-time resident – 45 year old Jeanette Vizguerra has chosen to the church because she feels safe there.

Vizguerra and her family came to the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 1997. They were in search of a better life. Then eight years ago, she had her first run-in with the law.

She was arrested and convicted of using fake documents. However, she’s won four stays of deportation from the U.S. so far.

Vizguerra checked in regularly with U.S. immigration authorities over the years and was about to do so again last week. Something told her that this visit might not be a good idea, and that her removal from U.S. was now a real possibility.

Former U.S. congressman and illegal immigration opponent Tom Tancredo said America’s new approach to the issue is long overdue. He also said that Vizguerra was not a victim.

“The reality is she knows exactly what she’s doing. This is all a set-up in order to gain attention, sympathy and antipathy for Trump,” Tancredo said.

Tancredo doesn’t advocate a mass roundup of immigrants, but he would like to see U.S. law enforced.

Vizguerra called it an attack on the entire immigrant community. Her children, three of whom were born in America, have visited her in the church basement. She will not step outside.

Vizguerra has received lots of support in Denver, one of several U.S. cities and states that have vowed to resist the new immigration policy. Even so, they cannot stop federal agents from taking action.

“For 20 years, I’ve contributed to my community. Does that make me a bad person?” Vizguerra said. ‘What should matter here is my moral character, not a piece of paper that allowed me to work.”