Illegal Alien Evades Deportation in Chicago Church

Source: Chicago Tribune
Background here.

A prominent activist for illegal immigrants in Chicago today defied a government order that she turn herself in to the Department of Homeland Security for deportation and instead sought sanctuary in a West Side church.

Saying she would not be returned to Mexico, Elvira Arellano — an illegal immigrant — and her 7-year-old young son went to Adalberto United Methodist Church, 2176 W. Division St.

"If Homeland Security chooses to send agents to a holy place, I would know that God wants me to serve as an example of the hatred and hypocrisy of the current administration," Arellano said.

Uh, yeah. 'Cause Bush and his administration are doing everything they can to legalize deport illegals.

"I'm here, and I'm staying here," the woman said in Spanish to WGN-Ch. 9. "I'm not going to leave like a coward. Nor will I leave as a criminal. I'm going to stay here to await the decision that God has placed before me."

* SNIP *

The 31-year-old single mother was arrested in 2002 during an immigration sweep at O'Hare International Airport. At the time, coming shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the U.S. government was working to secure the nation's aviation system.

But through the intervention of members of the state's congressional delegation including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Arellano received several temporary stays of deportation to remain with her young son, a U.S. citizen.

In the meantime, she spoke openly about her own experiences and became a poster child for the state's estimated 400,000 illegal immigrants, winning the support of church leaders and other immigrant advocates. She also took her case to Mexico President Vicente Fox and the General Assembly in Springfield.

Are you getting this? She's here, she's staying here, and to hell with the laws of the country where she's demanding to stay. And she's going to exhaust every political avenue she can to get what she oh-so-erroneously thinks is her right. Dick Durbin (one of my senators, as a U.S. citizen residing in Illinois). Luis Gutierrez (my congressman, as a U.S. citizen residing in the 4th congressional district of Illinois). Vicente Fox (absolutely zip, zero, nada to me, as a citizen of the United States).

And, tucked into a paragraph near the end of the article is this little gem:

Homeland Security officials noted that Arellano had already been deported once, in 1997, and that she had a criminal conviction for Social Security fraud.

I'm sure Arellano would tell you she's not a criminal -- she just wants a better life for her and her son.

Deported. Criminal conviction for Social Security fraud. Hiding out in a church to avoid another deportation.

I'd like a better life, too. But you can be sure that I won't try to get it by committing Social Security fraud and demanding to not only be forgiven, but be rewarded for breaking the laws of this country.

Technorati Tags
Illegal Immigration * Deportation * Chicago * Elvira Arellano * Luis Gutierrez * Dick Durbin * Vicente Fox