Immigrant activist Jeanette Vizguerra is set to be released from an immigration detention facility after an immigration judge granted her bail. Denver immigration judge Brea Burgie ruled that Vizguerra can post bail of $5,000 with no additional restrictions, such as an ankle monitor. Her family plans to post the bond soon, according to her legal team. Although it may take 24 to 48 hours for her release, Vizguerra, a mother of four, will likely be home by Christmas.
The decision comes after Vizguerra’s legal team argued that she was not a flight risk or a danger to the community. The activist, who has lived in the United States for nearly three decades after being born in Mexico, has been detained since March following her arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at her workplace.
Burgie’s ruling stated that Vizguerra has strong family and community ties, making her unlikely to flee, and has shown compliance with court proceedings in the past. This ruling paves the way for her release as her legal battle to remain in the country and fight deportation continues in immigration and federal courts.
Vizguerra gained national attention when she sought sanctuary in a Denver church during President Donald Trump’s first term. She was recognized as one of TIME’s most influential people in 2017 and received a humanitarian award from the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization earlier this year while in detention.
Supporters of Vizguerra have been holding vigils outside the detention center for months, advocating for her release and fair treatment.
