Immigration Activist's Son Seeks Mexican Leaders' Aid
CHICAGO — The 7-year-old son of an immigration activist who took refuge in a church to avoid being deported headed to Mexico yesterday to seek the support of national legislators.
Julio Cortez / AP
Elvira Arellano sits with her son, Saul Arellano, 7, on a pew inside Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago in August. She was supposed to surrender to federal authorities for deportation to Mexico, but instead took refuge at the church.
Saul Arellano, who is an American citizen, is scheduled to meet with members of the Mexican House of Representatives and the Mexican Senate tomorrow in an effort to get a resolution supporting Elvira Arellano's bid to stay in America.
Elvira Arellano was supposed to surrender to federal authorities for deportation to Mexico in mid-August. Instead, she took refuge at the Adalberto United Methodist Church.
"It's just another added pressure," the executive director of the immigration-rights group Centro Sin Fronteras, Emma Lozano, who will accompany the boy to Mexico. "We really believe Mexico could use its influence more in supporting people like Elvira."
Ms. Lozano and Saul will meet with Mexican human rights activist Rosario Ibarra, who is also a member of the Senate, in an effort to enlist her support.
The boy has been speaking at conferences and writing letters to political figures including President Bush and President Fox of Mexico, asking for help.
Ms. Arellano has said deporting her would effectively deport her son and violate his rights. She was arrested in 1997 soon after crossing into America and was sent back to Mexico.
