DENVER — Five of Colorado's sanctuary leaders have recently been granted protection from deportation for one year. Each immigrant took sanctuary in churches to avoid deportation as they await final decision on their immigration cases.
As of December 20, 2021, Jeanette Vizguerra, Arturo Hernandez Garcia and Sandra Lopez all have one year to leave sanctuary without the risk of deportation, something they haven’t been able to do for a long time. After the year is over, if their immigration cases haven’t been resolved, they have the option to stay in sanctuary without this protection, according to the office of Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colorado). Ingrid Encalada Latorre and Rosa Sabido were granted stays of removalearlier in 2021.
Alethea Smock, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), told Rocky Mountain PBS a Stay of Removal is a temporary humanitarian benefit ICE may grant to a noncitizen who is pending removal from the country, in order to allow them time to get their affairs in order to comply with a final order of removal. Stays may be granted up to one year in duration.
Neguse first wrote a letter to President Joe Biden on their behalf back in January 2021 asking for the stays of removal. After almost 12 months, Neguse reiterated the request in December, which was granted shortly after.
“They have lived in Colorado for decades, enriching our economy and adding value to our communities, and should not have been a priority for deportation” said Neguse. “This stay of removal will be life changing for each of these individuals and their families and we welcome this new chapter for each of them.”