Boy Leads Protest Over Deported Mother Elvira Arellano

[peejay 327]

Boy Leads Protest Over Deported Mother

By ERICA WERNER

The Associated Press

Thursday, September 13, 2007; 12:58 AM

WASHINGTON -- An 8-year-old boy whose mother was deported to Mexico led a chanting crowd of about 150 pro-immigration activists through the halls of Congress on Wednesday. Capitol Police arrested two demonstrators for disorderly conduct.

Saul Arellano and other children carried a banner that read: "Born in the USA. Don't take our moms and dads away."

The boy's mother, Elvira Arellano, was deported last month after taking refuge in a Chicago church for a year.

In Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego, Elvira Arellano spoke about her son to several dozen demonstrators. Saul was scheduled to join her there Thursday.

"He is a boy who has been suffering because the U.S. government told his mother she couldn't stay in their country anymore because she was undocumented," she said.

In Washington, activists clashed with police outside the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, chanting and shouting for her to lead on immigration reform. Saul appeared to get enveloped in the shoving crowd.

Demonstrators taped two oversize letters to Pelosi's door _ one in English and one in Spanish _ warning her, "If Democrats expect our support in the next election, the Democrats must support us now."

Immigration reform legislation died in Congress this year and isn't expected to be revived anytime soon. Pelosi, D-Calif., was in Oregon on Wednesday for a forum on global warming.

The crowd went to Pelosi's office after a news conference where they prayed, denounced deportations and broke into chants of "Si, se puede!" or "Yes, we can!" Saul drew on a piece of paper and sometimes ducked behind a desk. Asked by a demonstrator whether he wanted to speak, he shook his head no.

The boy, wearing baggy jeans and a striped shirt and looking distracted, then joined other children at the front of an unruly procession through the halls and basements of two House office buildings. Behind him someone carried an icon of the Virgin of Guadalupe and two others held large flags, one Mexican and one Puerto Rican. At one point, a child hesitated to board an escalator, creating a bottleneck.

Protesters left the Cannon House Office Building after police threatened more arrests.

Elvira Arellano was in the U.S. illegally for several years before taking sanctuary at Chicago's Adalberto United Methodist Church, where she lived with her son for a year in defiance of a deportation order.

She left the church last month to speak to other immigrants around the country and was arrested in Los Angeles by immigration authorities. They deported her to Tijuana, where she has been promoting an overhaul to U.S. immigration laws.

In Los Angeles on Wednesday, several dozen people marched from a church to MacArthur Park, where a peaceful May 1 immigrants march and rally ended with police hitting and firing rubber bullets at surprised participants and news media.

Marchers carried signs saying "Families Unite!" as they walked on sidewalks to the park, escorted by police officers on bicycles. At the park, a rally attracted nearly 300 people, said Officer Jason Lee, a police spokesman.

A man was arrested for investigation of battery following a scuffle with another person. No other details were immediately released, and Lee said the rally was "peaceful otherwise."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...7091202792.html

[Sister Fracas 5]

"He is a boy who has been suffering because the U.S. government told his mother she couldn't stay in their country anymore because she was undocumented," she said.

He is a boy who has been suffering because his mother is using him as a pawn.

[Peikko 1,575]

I have to agree that in this instance the child does appear to be being 'used' for political/emotive purpose which is quite wrong.

[kim&james 0]

shame on these people!

[Fandango 1,440]

deplorable!

[Addie_Goodvibes 0]

She is not a fit mother, Child protective services should step in and help this boy who has a criminal mother who is using him for her own selfish criminal agenda.

She had him as an achor baby and is obviosuly trying to use him as leverage to support criminal agenda she stands for. Sick!

Its a good thing her criminal illegal ####### was arrested and sent back to where she belongs.

[Scott & Lai 12]

The Associated Press

An 8-year-old boy whose mother was deported to Mexico led a chanting crowd of about 150 pro-immigration activists through the halls of Congress on Wednesday. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...7091202792.html

Again, confusing immigrants with illegals....are these people intentionally lying, or just extremely obtuse??

[John & Annie 1]

I would so love it if immigration showed up and vetted everyone there.

[Sister Fracas 5]

The Associated Press

An 8-year-old boy whose mother was deported to Mexico led a chanting crowd of about 150 pro-immigration activists through the halls of Congress on Wednesday. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...7091202792.html

Again, confusing immigrants with illegals....are these people intentionally lying, or just extremely obtuse??

indeed!

[almaty 19]

terrible

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

ok, i'll play.

what would you guys do? curl up in fetal position and give up?

Daniel

:energetic:

[perfect 39]

He is only suffering because she chose to abandon him here. He could be with his mother if she really wanted him to be - in Mexico -but no...that was not part of her game plan. I hope one day he grows up to be astute enough to see what his mother used him for.

Anywhere else that would be called child abandonment!

[Sister Fracas 5]

ok, i'll play.

what would you guys do? curl up in fetal position and give up?

Daniel

:energetic:

Honestly, in the first place, I wouldn't go into another country, stay illegally and then expect that country to treat me as a citizen. When in that country, I would obey their laws. When you go travelling, do you flagrantly break the law in that country?

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

ok, i'll play.

what would you guys do? curl up in fetal position and give up?

Daniel

:energetic:

Honestly, in the first place, I wouldn't go into another country, stay illegally and then expect that country to treat me as a citizen. When in that country, I would obey their laws. When you go travelling, do you flagrantly break the law in that country?

granted.

assume you did immigrate illegally into another country to 'better your living'. had a kid. got arrested and deported.

Daniel

:energetic:

[mawilson 2,133]

Oh dear.