Elvira Arellano facts for kids

Elvira Arellano (born in San Miguel Curahuango, Michoacán, 1975) is an activist who helps immigrants in the U.S. who don't have official papers. She works to protect their human rights.

In 2002, Elvira Arellano was arrested in Chicago for working without permission. In 2001, she helped start La Familia Latina Unida (United Latino Family). This group works to keep immigrant families together. In 2006, she and Flor Crisostomo went on a hunger strike against deportation.

Arellano became well-known in August 2006. She stayed in a church in Chicago to avoid being sent back to Mexico. She wanted to stay with her son, Saul, who was born in the U.S. This action inspired other churches to help immigrants avoid deportation. Time magazine recognized her in 2006. A year later, she was arrested in Los Angeles while speaking at a church. She was deported on August 20, 2007.

Her son Saul stayed in the U.S. but visited her in Mexico. Elvira Arellano continued her work in Mexico. She helped families separated by U.S. deportations. She also supported Central American immigrants affected by violence.

On March 18, 2014, Arellano asked for asylum in the United States. She has lived in Chicago since then. She continues her human rights work while her asylum case is decided.

Her Journey and Activism

Elvira Arellano first entered the United States in 1997. She was sent back to Mexico by the U.S. government. She returned days later and lived in Oregon for three years. In 1999, her son Saul was born. Saul is a United States citizen.

In 2000, Arellano moved to Chicago. She worked cleaning at O'Hare International Airport. In 2002, she was arrested for using a false Social Security number. She was told to appear before immigration officials in August 2006. On that day, she sought safety in the Adalberto United Methodist church. This church is in the Humboldt Park area of Chicago.

Support from Mexico

On November 14, 2006, Saul Arellano spoke to the Congress of Mexico. Mexican lawmakers asked the U.S. government to stop deporting parents of U.S. citizens. This included Elvira Arellano.

She was arrested on August 19, 2007, in Los Angeles. She was quickly sent back to Mexico. An official from the Mexican consulate went with her to the Mexican border.

On August 29, 2007, Elvira Arellano asked Mexican President Felipe Calderon for help. She wanted a special visa to visit her son. She also asked for help for other Mexican mothers and immigrants in similar situations. In February 2008, Elvira Arellano was not allowed to enter Canada. She had planned to speak there about immigrant rights.

Why Her Case Matters

Elvira Arellano says she should not have to choose. She believes she should not have to leave her U.S. citizen child or take him to Mexico. Some people disagree. They say she is using her son to stay in the United States.

The Sanctuary Movement

Many Latino groups see her case as a civil rights issue. Groups like National Alliance for Immigrants' Rights support her. They believe she has a "right of sanctuary" to stay in the U.S. La Placita, a historic church in Los Angeles, declared itself a sanctuary. It helps immigrants facing deportation. This church also helped refugees in the 1980s.

The U.S. government's view is different. They say Arellano can take Saul with her to Mexico. This would keep her family together. They also state that U.S. law does not recognize a right to sanctuary in a church.

After returning to Mexico, Arellano said the U.S. broke the law first. She mentioned allowing people to cross the border without documents. She also noted that people pay taxes.

In May 2007, Representative Bobby Rush introduced a bill. This bill would have given legal status to Elvira Arellano and others. The bill did not become law.

See also

• Illegal immigration to the United States
• Mexican American
• Birthright citizenship in the United States of America