August 20, 2007
Mexican Woman Arrested After Hiding In Church--Immigration Violations
Story Highlights from CNN:
# Illegal immigrant who stayed in an Illinois church for a year
# Elvira Arellano wanted to avoid separation from her 8-year-old son
# Immigration activists promise protests and vigils to support her
# Anti-illegal immigrant groups say the arrest was long overdue
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- An illegal immigrant who stayed in an Illinois church for a year to avoid separation from her 8-year-old son, a U.S. citizen, was arrested Sunday and was being processed for deportation.Elvira Arellano and her son Saul attend a press conference at a Chicago church on Wednesday.
Elvira Arellano, who arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday after leaving her sanctuary to campaign for immigration reform, was arrested around 1:30 p.m. outside Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church where she had been speaking to reporters, said the Rev. Walter Coleman, pastor of Adalberto United Methodist, the Chicago, Illinois, church.
Arellano was "being processed for removal to Mexico based upon a deportation order originally issued by a federal immigration judge in 1997," U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a news release.
Immigration activists promised protests and vigils to support her.
"We are sad, but at the same time we are angry," said Javier Rodriguez, a Chicago immigration activist who worked with her. "How dare they arrest this woman?"
Anti-illegal immigrant groups said the arrest was long overdue.
"Just because the woman has gone public and made an issue of the fact that she is defying law doesn't mean the government doesn't have to do its job," said Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favors limits on immigration.
I'm not sure what Latinos did to suburbanites but I've heard some of the most outrageously racist comments in those circles lately.
A few thoughts (remembering that suburban evangelicals really, really don't like Mexicans, for the most part, some would say):
(1) Ok, fellas, first of all, keep in mind that when you read the word "immigration" you should import "mexican" or "latino." No one really complains too much about illegals from Europe (although there are some). But our current debate is primarily about Mexicans (and a few other latinos).
(2) Since conservative, suburban evangelicals (white and black) generally hate Mexicans, and attempt to live as far away from "them" as possible, you're not going to her any sermons or read any pastoral letters on this so we don't have much to go on in terms of how to think about this issue. Sorry.
(3) Look, the woman knew full well that she's been breaking the law (for years). It undermines the rule of law to do nothing.
(4) Why would a church be complicit in helping her break the law? Is this considered civil-disobedience?
(5) This woman is NOT a victim. Is she? She's being supported by "immigration activists?" What does that mean?
Tough.
Posted by anthony at August 20, 2007 10:33 AM | TrackBackI heard this on the news and the thing that came to mind was "Elian Gonzalez" in Miami. Once politics gets into the mix, people become pawns and everything goes South...literally. I think INS was trying to avoid the mess.
Posted by: berkeleyrican at August 20, 2007 12:50 PMI feel most sorry for the kid who's probably very confused about all of this
Posted by: Anthony at August 20, 2007 01:35 PMI feel badly for the kid, too. This woman knew exactly what she was doing. As sad as her story may be, emotion cannot be what drives public policy. I don't particularly like that the immigration struggle has become primarily about illegal Mexicans, but that has been largely driven by the fact that there are exponentially more illegal Mexicans than illegal anything else (though smuggled Asian women are running a close second). The policy needs to be across the board. And as hard as it might be, exceptions cannot be made for emotional situations. That said, I'm glad it isn't my job to make or enforce immigration law. And the laws do need to be updated for the situation we are facing now, not the situation we had 30 years ago.
Posted by: dramaturge at August 20, 2007 08:48 PMIf my meager Spanish suffices, the child does not have to be separated from his mother. Here's the relevant passage from the Mexican Constitution:
http://mexico.udg.mx/politica/constitucion/t1cap2.html
If I read this correctly, her son is a Mexican citizen via clause 2, and therefore she or her supporters can buy him a plane ticket and be reunited with him in a matter of days.
And how can anyone live far away from Mexicans? My town of ~20,000 souls in MN is something like 93% "white," but it's got several fairly authentic Mexican groceries and restaurants--including a few where my meager Spanish is a definite handicap.
I'm glad I don't hate 'em, or my life would be MISERABLE. :^)
Posted by: Robert Perry at August 21, 2007 12:35 PMWhy couldn't the young woman take her son with her , to her home in Mexico? Is it true she has been here before and deported?
Posted by: Ellen Ort at August 21, 2007 10:18 PMPerhaps she went to Mexico without her son to return to the U.S. at a later date to join her son here once again? Food for thought
Posted by: Ellen Ort at August 21, 2007 10:22 PMI wrestle with this one brother. My position as of today is break the law and preach the Gospel. It is much easier for me to love them and serve them on American soil, rather than pack up everything and become a missionary there. I know that they are a tax burden, cause crimes, leave some parts of the community in shambles, and evern wreck you car and have no insurance. But what's a little extra taxes, a dinged up car, and some beer cans on the curb, in light of having the opportunity to share the love of Christ. So as I stand today, love them and anytime I get to vote for some type of immigration reform my ballot is always no!
Posted by: Lionel Woods at August 22, 2007 02:50 PM