Elvira Arellano Arrested in California

[bohorquez]

You guys have a similar post about her in another thread. She's the mother who son is USC born and was taking refuge in a Chicago church.

[kitkat1]

I'm not surprised. I read this morning that she left Chicago for CA and I had a feeling it would happen there.

Also interesting is one of the quotes - seems to shed more light on why the public response has been so negative:


Salas questioned why it appeared that mainstream media make Arellano out to be the face of undocumented immigrants, when her actions have exacerbated the animosity toward them. "She wasn't down to earth," he said, adding that Arellano acted "entitled" to rights "when there's thousands and thousands of people in the same situation." "She made everything worse," Salas said. "She's not a face of the immigrants. My family without papers, she doesn't represent them." Activists in the Chicago area who have followed Arellano's story weren't surprised that the law caught up to her.

"She always knew she could be arrested. She could have slipped quietly into the night like many others do but she chose to stand up for what she believed in."

[bohorquez]

I'm not surprised. I read this morning that she left Chicago for CA and I had a feeling it would happen there.

Also interesting is one of the quotes - seems to shed more light on why the public response has been so negative:


Salas questioned why it appeared that mainstream media make Arellano out to be the face of undocumented immigrants, when her actions have exacerbated the animosity toward them. "She wasn't down to earth," he said, adding that Arellano acted "entitled" to rights "when there's thousands and thousands of people in the same situation." "She made everything worse," Salas said. "She's not a face of the immigrants. My family without papers, she doesn't represent them." Activists in the Chicago area who have followed Arellano's story weren't surprised that the law caught up to her.

"She always knew she could be arrested. She could have slipped quietly into the night like many others do but she chose to stand up for what she believed in."

I was never in agreement for what she was doing. By not complying with the deportation order she made it worse for herself and her son. I'm from Chicago and she was always daring ICE to come and get her. It upsets me that she demanded rights for herself not for anyone else. Here my husband complied with his deportation orders because we knew it would be better for us in the long run. And with this whole immigration reform I feel we'll get screwed over in this whole process.

[kitkat1]

And with this whole immigration reform I feel we'll get screwed over in this whole process.

Ah but you won't! You already have an approved 212 and your 601 *could* be approved any day now. You're well on your way to having everything resolved!!!

[bohorquez]

yes! And after I heard there was a Jan. approval makes me really happy!

[melissan02]

Well, I feel that irregardless, she has made my point that the laws are too harsh and unjust, especially for people who have NO other criminal convictions/arrest records other than just entering this country illegally. Some have come EWI and are otherwise law abiding citizens. CIS knows that those who do come here are going to work by hook or by crook! GMAB!
Like it or not the laws need to change to support families. TOO many families are separated and its just downright wrong!!


***What gets my blood boiling is that when she was arrested in LA, ICE surrounded her with 15----YES 15 agents!!!!! That just ticks me off!! :angry: Can you imagine what her 8year old son thought at that moment when 15 agents surround your mother!?!?!!!!
Its not like she was Osama Bin Laden or something! 15? :rolleyes: GMAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kitkat1]

Do you really think she made the point that the laws are too harsh? My impression was that she made the point that she feels she is special because she has a son, and that the laws should not apply to her. In the meantime, millions of others in the same position are quietly living their lives while participating in rallys, demonstrations and actively involved in groups that fight for immigration reform. Doesn't seem to me that her method was very effective -- especially based on the public response (from both Americans and illegal immigrants). And you can't be surprised that ICE made a big to do about her arrest - after all, she's the one who brought her situation into the public eye. If not, there would certainly not have been 15 agents -- ICE needed to make a show of it for the media because that's what she did - don't you see that?

[cnyramz]

I think many people had hoped that she would be a symbol of a new immigration reform. This weekend she did not attract large crowds in support of her demonstration the we have seen before. I have mixed feeling about this situation. For one thing I want immigration to stay in the news. I want our politician to know the people are still demanding change. On the other hand I want the pubic to see illegal immigrates as people who can contribute to society and not be a burden on the system. She took a risk to be a voice for illegals weather it will help or hurt the cause is unclear to me. I hope she does not try to cross again I think that would not be in the best interest of the immigration issue.

[melissan02]

Well I wouldn't be surprised if she did come back across EWI;), afterall she does have a son here. Most news stations are condeming her for leaving her son here in the US w/ the church pastor and his wife. He is afterall a USC!!! Something I'm sure that these "blow bags" on the news and in the CIS would like to forget!! He does have rights--YES, even at 8 years old!! Lest that be forgotten. I'm glad she left him here though I know it was hard for her----he has the right to be here! Had she taken him w/ her it would have been shown almost as if he was giving up his rights as a USC...one less problem for USCIS to have to sweep outta here!!! :rolleyes:

She might not have shown the laws are too harsh given most peoples views about illegal immigrants, but no doubt they certainly are TOO HARSH!!
What gets me is that while I commend those illegal immigrants who go to rallies and live in the background hoping for the laws to change, -- there are those who wish, who try, to do the right thing by coming forward to file papers, yet are held under these harsh laws. Coming forward should carry some weight and consideration, especially if the immigrant has a USC spouse, child, family member. There's something to be said for coming out of the shadows!!

[kitkat1]

I imagine the pastor and his wife along with Elvira will make a plan so that he can visit her during his vacations one she is settled and has a job. He can travel freely, without restriction and can live wherever they decide is best for him. I guess the part I've having trouble getting across here is that coming forward to file papers after being illegal does carry weight and consideration and an option does exist - a waiver is made available to them based on their relationship to a USC. When her son is old enough, he can petition for his mother and she can go through the waiver process since by then ten years will have passed. But the law has limits and isn't all-forgiving. That's why people are working so hard to change it. But she wasn't working to change the law - she was trying to bring attention to herself in hopes of finding a solution for herself --- and no one else.

[aguafria]

What really gets me is people who have received their papers because they've lied and try to get people like us to do what they did.

I agree honesty and integrity should mean something!!!

[Pinkpig]

I heard an interview today with the head of ICE in LA. This is what he stated she is charged with:

EWI

deportation

EWI

using false documents of USC to work at airport in Chicago

ordered deported

He said that ICE's priorities are to find people with outstanding deportation orders that are still in the US and to find people who are in the US illegally and have committed additional crimes.

He said that ICE was following her car on the way to the 3rd or 4th location today when her driver noticed that they were being followed and stopped her car and he got out of the car to confront the ICE officers. At that point the ICE officers surrounded the car and asked her to step out. He said that she did so without incident and they took her into custody.

[melissan02]

I imagine the pastor and his wife along with Elvira will make a plan so that he can visit her during his vacations one she is settled and has a job. He can travel freely, without restriction and can live wherever they decide is best for him. I guess the part I've having trouble getting across here is that coming forward to file papers after being illegal does carry weight and consideration and an option does exist - a waiver is made available to them based on their relationship to a USC. When her son is old enough, he can petition for his mother and she can go through the waiver process since by then ten years will have passed. But the law has limits and isn't all-forgiving. That's why people are working so hard to change it. But she wasn't working to change the law - she was trying to bring attention to herself in hopes of finding a solution for herself --- and no one else.
But had she brought a more positive attention to herself which had resulted in a law change (let's say for the sake of argument), then we'd all be thankful that she'd had a spotlight on her. She'd have been praised no doubt. :rolleyes:
I don't think those who come forward to try and do the right thing are given consideration b/c otherwise, I wouldn't be facing a 10 year ban (waiting period) to file a freakin' waiver! :mad: Sorry, tone not intended to any one person, rather, the law and system!
This is my argument as to why the laws need to change. Having a legitimate marriage, established, law abiding life here in the US should carry more weight in cases where illegal immigrant spouses or parents come forward to do the right thing, but unfortunately it doesn't. Whereas our regular justice system has levels on which to punish crimes, our immigration law does not. There is something more than a little wrong with that!!
Bottomline for us....we're not waiting no 10 years to file a waiver of any kind!! That's just totally unacceptable when I think that we're decent people who live a quiet life, and who abide by everyday laws! I feel as though my rights as a USC are being discounted and it's just wrong no matter how you look at it! When I took my vows with my husband almost 5 years ago, we said..."all that I have and all that I am, I give to thee"----well, part of who I am is a USC so therefore, my husband is too!!!!!! We also said..."till death do us part.." so ICE ain't pulling us apart---I'll be damned if they do!!

[melissan02]

What really gets me is people who have received their papers because they've lied and try to get people like us to do what they did.

I agree honesty and integrity should mean something!!!
:yblob:Yep, those who have had more than one EWI are now sittin' pretty because that little fact was kept out of the records! AMEN!! I agree.

[Laura]

Melissa - by the way, your inbox is full... clean it out so I can reply to your PM!!!!

[kitkat1]

Well I disagree that she brought positive attention to herself -- she might have brought some attention to the general public about illegal immigration (not that we haven't seen a ton of attention in the past year) but nothing about it was very positive. And logically speaking, one illegal immigrant cannot possibly change the law -- only working together with several government organization and advocacy groups can result in that.

I realize that you are fired up because your husband won't have the chance to file a waiver for ten years. And I don't disagree that the laws need to change. But for now, the USCIS response is that he broke the law, and whether any of us think the punishment fits the crime or not, they think it does. (They also think that you can relocate to a third country to live together). Until groups and groups of people work together to fight for change, it won't happen. I hope you decide to get involved in one of those groups.

[melissan02]

Already done! It just blows my mind that the law/USCIS thinks we can just uproot ourselves here and move to another country. We've established our life here for 5 married years, my husband 11 years, and me, well, I've lived here in the same area of our little piece of the country all my life-34 years! We shouldn't have to move and leave an outstanding mortgage, family, friends, church, my teaching position, etc. Why, its ridiculous!!
I know others have had to leave, but facing a 10 year bar from filing a waiver puts a whole new spin on things.
If any of you had a 10 year bar from filing a waiver, what would you do?? 10 years is a long time....a long time indeed...too long in fact.

[inlimbo]

Already done! It just blows my mind that the law/USCIS thinks we can just uproot ourselves here and move to another country. We've established our life here for 5 married years, my husband 11 years, and me, well, I've lived here in the same area of our little piece of the country all my life-34 years! We shouldn't have to move and leave an outstanding mortgage, family, friends, church, my teaching position, etc. Why, its ridiculous!!
I know others have had to leave, but facing a 10 year bar from filing a waiver puts a whole new spin on things.
If any of you had a 10 year bar from filing a waiver, what would you do?? 10 years is a long time....a long time indeed...too long in fact.

Actually, we used to have a member here, threeinsanmiguel, before the big site change back in July whose husband is ineligible to file a waiver for 10 years because of multiple EWIs. She and her husband and their son decided to pack up and start a life in San Miguel de Allende. I believe they started their own small shop there and are of course dealing with the challenges of having less money and a less comfortable lifestyle but are making the best of a bad situation. They just had another child in June, I think. I sure wish she would come back; her story was very inspirational.

[melissan02]

Does sound inspirational, but inspiration doesn't make one feel better when they're away from family and a life they once knew. That's why I've decided, along w/ my husband of course, that we will fight. Its worth to us to fight and not give up the life we have here so easily. Our love, family, future, etc. is worth it to us.
You always fight for the people you love. We'll try any avenue we can legally even if its through removal proceedings, etc., but we might as well---know what I mean?

[melissan02]

Melissa - by the way, your inbox is full... clean it out so I can reply to your PM!!!!

Cleaned it up so you can email me. Thanks! Sorry