Sanctuary for All: Denver Bands Rally for Jeanette Vizguerra’s Freedom and Immigrant Rights
Los Mocochettes play outside the Geo ICE detention center in Aurora on Monday, March 24.
Photos and Story by Giles Clasen
A coalition of musicians and immigrant rights supporters will take the stage at the Marquis Theater for the Sanctuary for All benefit concert.
The concert is happening on Thursday, March 27, a day before a pivotal immigration court hearing that could determine whether longtime Denver resident and activist Jeanette Vizguerra is deported to Mexico. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are available here.
Local musical artists Time (from calm.), Los Mocochetes, LatinSoul, and Stay Tuned will perform during the concert. Immigration rights supporters like Tk, TK, and TK will also attend.
The concert caps off near constant action by immigrant rights advocates supporting Vizguerra which includes protests at the Aurora ICE detention center and a rally at Auraria campus.
“We wanted to create something that breaks down fear,” Chris "Time" Steele, who produced the show and will play with his band Time (from calm.), told Denver VOICE in an interview “The goal is for us to celebrate Jeanette and others together differently than we would at a protest."
Vizguerra entered the United States without authorization in 1997. She gained national recognition when she sought sanctuary in a Denver church in 2017. Time magazine recognized her as one of the "100 most influential people" the same year.
Vizguerra's daughter, Luna Baez, told Denver VOICE that she believes her mom was detained because Vizguerra has been outspoken against President Donald Trump's immigration and deportation policies since his first term
Baez added that her family has been forced to rebuild their daily lives around a profound absence while her mother is detained. For instance, Báez said she has taken time away from work and adjusted her routines to respond to her mother’s rapidly changing legal situation.
Beyond the daily logistics, Baez says the emotional toll has been immense.
“You just have that fear that your mom won't be near you,” she said. “To me it's kind of a routine. Every Sunday I would get to go over, you know, we'd go ahead and have like a family lunch or spend time together. It is awful not being able to talk to your mom."
"My mom is not a criminal and is being unfairly targeted. She doesn't have a single violent crime. She was essentially kidnapped for something while our president has 34 felonies to where he is a danger to our society," Baez said.
The concert comes at a time when vitriolic rhetoric demonizing immigrants has intensified because of Trump's so-called America First platform. Baez described the political language as hateful and racist.
“It’s extremely offensive,” she said of the portrayal of immigrants as criminals. “My mom's not a danger to society. Yet she’s detained while people with real power and real crimes go untouched.”
Vizguerra's detention has impacted the wider Denver community. There have been multiple protests advocating for Vizguerra's release, including at the GEO ICE detention center in Aurora.
Joshua Abeyta performs with Los Mocochetes outside the Ice detention center in Aurora.
Joshua Abeyta, with Los Mocochetes, said it felt like a gut punch when he learned Vizguerra was taken into custody. He said his wife was on the verge of tears because Vizguerra is like family to them.
Vizguerra helped Los Mocochetes find a toehold in the Denver music scene and supported the band. Los Mocochetes has also played for Vizguerra's birthday.
“I felt like the blood drained out of my body when I started receiving texts about her. Just to know that in an instant, they can take away your freedom like that is terrifying,” Abeyta said.
Vizguerra helped organize the Sanctuary for All concert before her detention and has worked diligently to support Colorado's immigrant community.
“She's always reaching out and helping others in the undocumented communities and women in different parts of Colorado. Even when she was hiding and being threatened,” Time said. “That selflessness has always really inspired me on like what solidarity really is.”
Los Mocochetes lead singer Jozer Guerrero told people gathered at a rally outside the Aurora detention center Monday night. Guerrero shared during the bands' ad hoc concert on the sidewalk outside the detention center that he had talked to Vizguerra on the phone, and she sounded hopeful and full of power.
"Those people in [ICE detention] are all suffering," Guerrero said at the rally. "But I guarantee you their stay has been better since Janette Vizguerra arrived. Because that's what she does. She makes everything better."
Los Mocochetes drummer Jon Rubio said that he knew as soon as he learned about Vizguerra's detention he and the band were going to battle for their friend.
"We just want to educate people and promote understanding about our culture," Rubio said. "We want to fight the narrative and the media bias that says that’s saying all immigrants are bad.”
Rubio’s own family was impacted by deportation. He has seen firsthand the damage that can be done when individuals are forced to leave their U.S. community and deported to a country they no longer know.
“I had an uncle who was 15 when he got deported back to Mexico," Rubio said. "He didn't have any family to go back to, so he felt he had no choice but to work for the cartels just to survive."
Rubio said the deportation destroyed his uncle's life and future.
Los Mocochetes performing at their recent vinyl release party at the Skylark Lounge.
Elias Garcia, Los Mocochetes' multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, said that everyone should see Vizguerra's detention as a threat to their own freedoms.
"For someone to go after her because of her voice, her activism, in my eyes, is a direct threat on the First Amendment,” Garcia said.
Garcia said he sees art and music as a way to connect people from different backgrounds and experiences. He believes it can help grow empathy.
“Music is a way of documenting. It’s a part of our oral history,” he said. “If someone listens to our songs 50 years from now, I hope they can still feel what we’re feeling now.”
Garcia referenced historical artists like Woody Guthrie and Victor Jara, who used music to confront injustice.
He said activism is part of Los Mocochetes's roots, and the band carries the legacy of using music to create change forward — even if today’s political climate doesn’t always welcome it.
“It feels like the culture right now doesn’t want to hear it,” Garcia said. “But it’s our responsibility. Jeanette has been there for us so many times, now we have to be there for her."
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