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Outspoken Advocate For Immigrants Faces Deportation

DENVER (CBS4) - An Aurora woman who has been an outspoken advocate for immigrants in Colorado is facing deportation. On Monday the support she gave others came back to her.

Surrounded by supporters outside federal court, Jeanette Vizguerra fought back tears. For more than a decade she has been the one leading rallies and helping those in need. She's a community activist who fights for immigrant rights.

Vizguerra came to Colorado from Mexico City 14 years ago. She has four children, a business that employs 20 people, and a husband who has cancer. Now she faces deportation after she was pulled over by an Aurora police officer.

"He stopped, looked at me and first things out of mouth were, 'Are you here legally or not?'" Vizguerra said.

She still doesn't know why she was stopped by the officer, but now it doesn't matter. All that matters to her now is who will care for her children should she be sent back.

"What happens to them if their father gets sick again? What happens to all the dreams we had in this country?" she said.

But some would ask Vizguerra what she expected when she came here illegally. She said she traded fear of violence in Mexico for fear of deportation. Even now she says it was worth it.

"I'm going to keep fighting for my case, but not only for my case, but all those detained and deported so we can change the system," Vizguerra said.

Vizguerra was scheduled to have her final deportation hearing Monday, but it was postponed until July.

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