Illegal Alien Enforcement Finally Beginning?

Since the resounding defeat of the recent Congressional bill pandering to the illegal alien problem, it is beginning to appear like Pres. Bush has initiated a step-up in INS enforcement. It is about time, and it had better increase significantly if the GOP is going to stand a chance of remaining in power.

The INS made a significant symbolic arrest and deported a Mexican female who was intent on making herself a cause celebre. Elvira Arellano has been holed up claiming sanctuary in a Chicago church for a year. This weekend she ventured out of the church, traveled to Los Angeles and suddenly found herself deported to Tijuana.

According to an AP article,

Elvira Arellano, who arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday after leaving her sanctuary to campaign for immigration reform, was arrested around 1:30 p.m. outside Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church where she had been speaking to reporters, said the Rev. Walter Coleman, pastor of Adalberto United Methodist, the Chicago church.

Arellano was "being processed for removal to Mexico based upon a deportation order originally issued by a federal immigration judge in 1997," U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a news release.

Arellano’s stunt is symbolic.

Arellano, 32, has become a symbol of the struggles of illegal immigrant parents and a source of controversy.

Yes, she is a symbol; A symbol of economic criminality and unjustified entitlement.

Arellano came to Washington state illegally in 1997. She was deported to Mexico shortly after, but returned and moved to Illinois in 2000, taking a job cleaning planes at O'Hare International Airport.

She was arrested in 2002 at O'Hare and convicted of working under a false Social Security number. She was to surrender to authorities last August.

She was to surrender four years after her conviction? Yes, the system is broken. What’s wrong with immediate deportation, if not some jail time prior to the deportation? Jail time is appropriate for Arellano since she used a false Social Security number and may well have screwed-up someone’s Social Security history.

The illegal alien apologists think that it is just terrible to deport Arellano and thereby separate her from her eight year old son, a U.S. citizen. What separation from her son? She can take him with her to Mexico.

There is some justice in allowing the son to be a U.S. citizen since he had no say as to within which country his illegal alien mother gave birth to him. But, there is absolutely no reason to reward his criminal mother with the same benefits of citizenship. And, Arellano certainly does not consider the U.S. as her country. Witness this statement from her in which she designates Mexico as her country.

“From the time I took sanctuary the possibility has existed that they arrest me in the place and time they want," she said in Spanish. "I only have two choices. I either go to my country, Mexico, or stay and keep fighting. I decided to stay and fight."

As you can guess, Arellano has her supporters. Here’s what has been said.

Immigration activists promised protests and vigils to support her.

"We are sad, but at the same time we are angry," said Javier Rodriguez, a Chicago immigration activist who worked with her. "How dare they arrest this woman?"

How dare they not arrest this woman, and why did it take so long to do so? Arellano’s arrest and deportation were long overdue. There is no such thing as legal sanctuary in the U.S., church or no church. Federal authorities should have immediately entered the church property and taken her into custody. Any church personnel attempting to interfere with an arrest or aid and abed a Federal fugitive should be prosecuted.

The INS made an important statement with the arrest and deportation of Arellano, now it is incumbent upon them to escalate the efforts to deport all illegal aliens and jail those committing crimes other than illegal status.

Link in this Blog:
Immigration Activist Arrested Outside L.A. Church