‘I’m a political prisoner’: Exclusive with Jeanette Vizguerra from an ICE detention facility

“I am a political prisoner,” Jeanette Vizguerra said in an exclusive interview from inside a detention facility. She’s been a symbol of resistance for the immigrants rights movement since 2017 when she was recognized as one of Time’s 100 most influential people, after seeking sanctuary in a church to avoid deportation.

She remained an outspoken activist and in March 2025 she was detained by ICE.

Tune in to your local NPR station or wherever you listen to podcasts starting Sunday, May 25 to hear the podcast episode in which we also hear from others who took sanctuary years ago, but unlike Jeanette, want to remain in the shadows fearing retaliation.

What is sanctuary now that churches are no longer protected?

Additional video production assistance by Roxana Aguirre.

Read more about the episode here: https://www.latinousa.org/2025/05/23/politicalprisoner/

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