Immigration Activist to Leave Sanctuary

[WifeOHunkyJohn 2]

Immigration Activist to Leave Sanctuary

By SOPHIA TAREEN

The Associated Press

Wednesday, August 15, 2007; 2:59 AM

Elvira Arellano, an illegal immigrant who has taken up sanctuary at Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago for the past year, accompanied by Jacqueline Jackson, wife of Rev. Jesse Jackson, talks to the media during a press conference at the church Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007 in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (M. Spencer Green - AP)

CHICAGO -- A woman who has come to personify the struggles of illegal immigrant parents says that for the first time in a year she will venture beyond the walls of the church that has protected her from deportation.

Elvira Arellano took refuge inside Aldalberto United Methodist Church on Aug. 15, 2006, and has lived there on the second floor with her 8-year-old son Saul, who is a U.S. citizen.

She hasn't left the church for fear of being sent back to Mexico and separated from her son.

She was to announce Wednesday that she plans a Sept. 12 trip to Washington to lobby Congress for immigration reform, according to the Rev. Walter Coleman, pastor of the church and longtime Chicago political activist.

It's not clear how she'll get there, but she likely won't be flying, Coleman told The Associated Press Tuesday. He and others worry Arellano will be arrested, but she plans to go anyway.

"I will go with my Bible and my son and I will read to him from the Holy Scriptures as I do every day," Arellano said in a statement sent Tuesday to The AP. "If this government would separate me from my son, let them do it in front of the men and women who have the responsibility to fix this broken law and uphold the principles of human dignity."

Whether Arellano will continue her sanctuary at the church is unclear.

The 32-year-old says she has been too comfortable there and needs to "join the struggle" outside.

In the past year, Arellano has reignited an interest in a sanctuary movement across the U.S. with her continued public defiance and her belief that the U.S. knowingly exploits illegal immigrants.

But she's also drawn criticism from many who say she is part of an orchestrated movement and exploits her U.S.-born son by having him speak at news conferences.

There is no doubt, however, of her reach.

"She's a household figure at this point and her story is well known because people can relate to it," said Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles.

Arellano came illegally to the U.S. in 1997. She was deported shortly thereafter, but returned and worked different jobs, including childcare. She moved to Illinois in 2000 because she had friends in the Chicago area and took a job cleaning planes at O'Hare International Airport.

She was arrested in 2002 at O'Hare and later convicted of working under a false Social Security number. She was to surrender to authorities last August, but asked instead to take refuge at her church.

She has gone on hunger strikes, written dozens of letters and sent her son with other activists to Mexico and Washington to talk to legislators. She's been interviewed by reporters from across the globe.

But she says she doesn't consider herself a symbol.

"I am a single mother who has a child who's an American citizen," she said recently in Spanish.

Arellano said she has a simple goal: to stay with Saul, who she said should be guaranteed rights as an American citizen.

"He knows this as his country," she said.

Arellano said her decision to live at the church has come with sacrifices. She said she can't take Saul for after-school activities or pick up his report card. The family has no contact with Saul's father.

At times she has feared for her and Saul's safety, she said.

In December, neighborhood residents said they saw U.S. marshals taking photos of the church. Federal agents denied the allegations, but immigration activists took up 24-hour vigils outside.

Arellano has no case pending to become a legal resident.

"I'm hoping for an immigration bill to pass," she said.

Arellano knows she could be arrested during next month's planned trip. If that happens, she said, "they'd find me praying."

[mawilson 2,133]

Right -- the church is so much safer, because it's off limits for the police.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

She hasn't left the church for fear of being sent back to Mexico and separated from her son.

How would she be seperated from her son?

[kitkat1 5]

Ugh - this story has irked me for the past 12 months. I don't care if she's an "activist" and a "household name". She does not seem to actually understand that she broke the law. And the fact that she keeps falling back on her son, saying "he should be guaranteed rights as an American citizen" makes me even more angry. No one said her son doesn't have rights - he's a USC. No one said they would deport HIM.

[mawilson 2,133]

If they wanted to deport her, they would have deported her by now - church or no church.

[almaty 19]

Arellano came illegally to the U.S. in 1997. She was deported shortly thereafter, but returned and worked different jobs, including childcare. She moved to Illinois in 2000 because she had friends in the Chicago area and took a job cleaning planes at O'Hare International Airport.

She was arrested in 2002 at O'Hare and later convicted of working under a false Social Security number. She was to surrender to authorities last August, but asked instead to take refuge at her church.

i think she has another issue besides being here illegally...False SS# ...

[kitkat1 5]

If they wanted to deport her, they would have deported her by now - church or no church.

Who knows? "They" said they would do it when they were good and ready. I hope they do it when she steps out of the church!

The false SSN is just icing on the cake. She was deported and re-entered. Big no no. Lifetime ban with no possibility of a waiver for ten years AFTER she has left the country.

[isleta521 5]

She should be trying to lobby and demonstrate in Mexico since this is their mess / fault.

Fake SS # noted

[Jasman0717 9]

She should be trying to lobby and demonstrate in Mexico since this is their mess / fault.

Fake SS # noted

[peejay 327]

If they wanted to deport her, they would have deported her by now - church or no church.

I think ICE was waiting to see which way the political winds were blowing before commiting to what will surely be a media event (and possible career ruiner). Now that Bush and Chertoff have vowed to crack down on illegal aliens, maybe ICE will do what they should have done months ago...deport her a$$ back to Mexico with a ban to reentering.

Whether her son remains in the USA or goes to Mexico is up to her. If anyone doubts that she purposely made an anchor baby to circumvent immigration law...they are dumber than a box of rocks.

[kitkat1 5]

If they wanted to deport her, they would have deported her by now - church or no church.

I think ICE was waiting to see which way the political winds were blowing before commiting to what will surely be a media event (and possible career ruiner). Now that Bush and Chertoff have vowed to crack down on illegal aliens, maybe ICE will do what they should have done months ago...deport her a$$ back to Mexico with a ban to reentering.

Whether her son remains in the USA or goes to Mexico is up to her. If anyone doubts that she purposely made an anchor baby to circumvent immigration law...they are dumber than a box of rocks.

Agree. I doubt they'll wait very long now. And she can take her US born son back to Mexico with her or he can stay in the US with friends/relatives. He is NOT the issue here (but she refuses to see that!!)

[mawilson 2,133]

If they wanted to deport her, they would have deported her by now - church or no church.

I think ICE was waiting to see which way the political winds were blowing before commiting to what will surely be a media event (and possible career ruiner). Now that Bush and Chertoff have vowed to crack down on illegal aliens, maybe ICE will do what they should have done months ago...deport her a$$ back to Mexico with a ban to reentering.

Whether her son remains in the USA or goes to Mexico is up to her. If anyone doubts that she purposely made an anchor baby to circumvent immigration law...they are dumber than a box of rocks.

I think the waiting and uncertainty is worse than deportation. The ICE are evil geniuses

that way.

"Instead of deporting her, let's let her suffer and wake up each day with a black cloud of

despair hanging over her head. We'll take her when we're good and ready, and when

she least expects it."

Will she be snatched from her bed in the dead of the night? Abducted from her bath and

dragged naked through the freezing streets? Oh, the uncertainty must be killing her!

Edited August 15, 2007 by mawilson

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

She was arrested in 2002 at O'Hare and later convicted of working under a false Social Security number. She was to surrender to authorities last August, but asked instead to take refuge at her church.

Immigration activist? What we have here is a convict and a fugitive. I surely hope they arrest her arrogant azz.

Edited August 15, 2007 by Mr. Big Dog

[tom&tata 2]

She was arrested in 2002 at O'Hare and later convicted of working under a false Social Security number. She was to surrender to authorities last August, but asked instead to take refuge at her church.

Immigration activist? What we have here is a convict and a fugitive. I surely hope they arrest her arrogant azz.

You are right. She broke immigration law and all of the sudden she is immigration activist.

They should stop giving legal status to children whose parents are in US illegally.

Edited August 15, 2007 by tom&tata

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

They should stop giving legal status to children whose parents are in US illegally.

fyi, they will need to change the constitution for that.

Daniel

:energetic: