FAMILY

Woman living in sanctuary inside a Salt Lake City church allowed to leave

Apr 15, 2021, 6:57 PM

(Vicky Chavez at the doors of the First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City after announcing she was...

(Vicky Chavez at the doors of the First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City after announcing she was granted a stay of removal. Photo: Paul Nelson)

(Vicky Chavez at the doors of the First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City after announcing she was granted a stay of removal. Photo: Paul Nelson)

SALT LAKE CITY – Vicky Chavez, the woman who spent more than three years in a sanctuary inside a Salt Lake City Church, is finally allowed to leave. The federal government is granting her a temporary stay of removal, and she took her first steps of freedom outside of the church grounds.

Chavez fled an abusive relationship in Honduras and sought asylum in Utah. However, she claimed sanctuary in the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City when she learned she could be deported back to Honduras. Since then, she and her two daughters have lived inside the church for 1,168 days.

Chavez said, “We have been waiting for this day for more than 39 months.”

She said when her attorney first told her she was granted a one-year stay by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, she thought it was a joke. Chavez calls the stay a miracle that she didn’t expect, but she never really lost hope that it would happen.

“This is my community, Salt Lake City, and I’m going to stay here forever,” she said.

(Vicky Chavez leaving the church for a private celebration. Photo: Paul Nelson)

After a press conference, Chavez rang the bells of the chapel, then walked outside and got into a car to attend a private celebration with family and friends. She said her kids made a lot of plans while they were living in the sanctuary.

“My kids are very happy because we’re going to go to Disneyland. They’re ready to share more time with their family and my oldest girl is happy because she’s going to have more friends, for sure,” she said.

However, Chavez is joining the fight against what she calls a broken immigration system. 

She said, “This is the beginning of a big battle, and I’m going to continue to fight for all the people who need me.”

Her attorney, Skyler Anderson, says decisions made by former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions put Chavez’s asylum status in jeopardy.

“They took away asylum protections for victims of domestic violence living in countries where it’s just dismissed as a ‘family matter,’” Anderson said.  “That was just unnecessarily cruel and ridiculous.”

Chavez is currently a plaintiff in a lawsuit against ICE, saying the agency retaliated against sanctuary leaders by placing unreasonable fines against them.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Family

Erika Charles poses with her family. (Erika Charles)...

Brianna Chavez

Halted adoption process leaves Utah woman stuck in Haiti

A Utah woman said she and several other American families living in Haiti are unable to come back to the United States due to a halted adoption process.

3 days ago

Winston, the French Bulldog, winner of the Non-Sporting Group, competes in the 147th Annual Westmin...

JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press

French bulldogs remain popular US breed in new rankings. Many fans aren’t happy

Some say the new rankings make Frenchies the nation's most popular canine. But longtime fans aren't celebrating.

8 days ago

marriage divorce Utah...

Allessandra Harris

Marriage rates rising, divorces decreasing nationally

The number of marriages across the U.S. has returned to pre-pandemic levels with 2022 showing the highest marriage rate since 2019.

9 days ago

tooele health department sign, the department is investigating counterfeit car seat cases...

Alex Cabrero, KSL TV

Four ways to figure out if you have a counterfeit car seat

The Tooele County Health Department says the registration card is one of the four most important things you can do to check for a counterfeit car seat.

10 days ago

The Delta Center and the Utah Jazz are making Mother's Rooms at the arena....

Ben Anderson

Utah Jazz open mother’s rooms at Delta Center

The Jazz mother’s rooms are designed to accommodate mothers and infants at Jazz games, concerts, and other events.

13 days ago

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Follow @amandadickson...

Amanda Dickson

Dickson: I’m committed to not texting my kids while they’re in school

Amanda Dickson says she's totally guilty of texting her kids while they're in school. She's committed to stoping it.

14 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Woman living in sanctuary inside a Salt Lake City church allowed to leave