Elvira Arellano to Leave Her Church Sanctuary

Wed15Aug2007

Elvira Arellano to Leave Her Church Sanctuary

09:22 H | Topics: Activism - Chicago - Immigration - Politics - Washington DC

Elvira Arellano is leaving Aldalberto United Methodist Church, the Chicago church she has sought sanctuary a year ago. She decided to stay within the walls of the church to avoid deportation and more importantly perhaps, avoid being separated from her 8 year old son, Saul . But she isn't just going anywhere? She is taking her story and her struggle to Washington D.C.

"I will go with by Bible and my son and I will read to him from the Holy Scriptures as I do everyday," 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."

Elvira feels that her sanctuary has separated her from the real struggle and her trip to D.C. plans include lobbying Congress for immigration reform.

Some have called Elvira's actions and future plans for actions exploitative of her son.

As a mother who believes in social justice, I can understand the fear on both sides, of something happening to Saul and of something happening to separate Elvira from her son, as has happened to countless of other undocumented mothers across the country? So what is an undocumented mother to a citizen child to do? Pack her bags from where she has made a life for herself and her son or fight, even if fighting puts herself and her son at risk?

Via / Chicago Tribune

One of These Things is Not Like the Other : Obama Changes Response to Sanctuary Questionnaire (Monday, Sep 22 2008)
Beyond the Headlines : The Sanctuary Releases Obama's Answers to Immigration Questions (Friday, Sep 19 2008)

Maegan la Mala

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1. Daniel H. ~ Thursday, Aug 16 2007 | 03:09H:

Thanks for the update. I wrote about Elvira at the Weekly a while ago and just posted more at Intersections, linking to you. Sincerely, D.

2. MELINDA ~ Saturday, Aug 18 2007 | 14:00H:

SEND HER BACK TO MEXICO

3. Ramon ~ Monday, Aug 20 2007 | 03:23H:

Spoken like a morally compassionate human, Melinda. Would you like the honor of throwing the first stone too? Is society on such a slippery slope that a mother's sacrifice for her child evinces such a reaction?
If you're a mother, I feel sorry for your children. If someday you become a mother, you may have to make radical decisions to protect them.
What possible "justice" can you be getting from this?
Your terse sentence makes me all the more grateful for the wonderful mother that I had. Even during the last years of her life, (I was already in my 40s) the first question that she would always ask me was "Have you eaten?"

4. lupe ~ Wednesday, Sep 24 2008 | 00:39H:

HEY melinda, how can u assume that Elvira Arrellano is from Mexico. The article doesnn't say anything about her being from or going to Mexico. You are PREJUDICED!

VivirLatino