UM's Hail Mexican Illegal Martyr And Want Her Back In
US,
Yet Facilitated Armed Return Of Communist Boy, Elian - Remember?
Arrest of mother puts 'human face' on immigration
Aug. 31, 2007
NOTE: Photographs, video and audio available at
http://umns.umc.org.
By Kathy L. Gilbert*
Elvira Arellano, an illegal immigrant recently arrested and deported to
Mexico, puts a "human face" on immigration in a high-profile case that
United Methodist leaders say will force Congress to see the issue in
terms of justice and mercy.
Her Aug. 19 arrest has separated Arellano from her 8-year-old son, Saul,
who was born in the United States and is a U.S. citizen. Arellano is a
member and lay leader of Adalberto United Methodist Church and had taken
sanctuary in the Chicago church from Aug. 15, 2006 to Aug. 16, 2007. She
decided to leave the church to speak nationwide for immigration reform
and was arrested days later.
Since her arrest, Saul has lived in Chicago with the Rev. Walter
Coleman, pastor of the church, and his wife. (Hear interview with Rev.
Coleman at add podcast link.)
Coleman said Arellano is "free and secure in Mexico and continuing the
struggle for the 4 million U.S. citizen children who are losing one or
more parents" due to deportation. Coleman and his wife plan to take Saul
to Mexico to visit with his mother, who will decide about Saul's future.
Debate reframed
In the weeks after her arrest, United Methodists leaders have offered
their prayers and support for Arellano and her family and have spoken
out for a U.S. immigration policy anchored in the sanctity of the
family.
The principles of immigration reform supported by the church include a
pathway to citizenship for all undocumented migrants, full protection
for migrant workers and the reuniting of families separated by
migration.
"Her choice to love and care for her child, thereby resist deportation,
has reframed the undocumented immigration debate from narrow questions
of legality to the greater human questions of justice and mercy," said
Bishop Joel N. Martinez, espicopal leader of the San Antonio area and
president of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
Harsh feelings on both sides of the immigration issue have swirled in
the United States since Congress failed to pass a comprehensive
immigration reform bill before recessing for the summer. As lawmakers
prepare to reconvene Sept. 4, the issue is already starting to reignite
debate.
"The backlash against immigrants has been fierce," said Bill Mefford,
staff member of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, the
church's social action agency. "To further poison the atmosphere, there
is currently before the Senate legislation (S. 1984) which will build
more fences, build more detention centers with limited regulations and
increase arrests and deportations such as the recent deportation of
Elvira Arellano."
Since 1980, The United Methodist Church has issued statements of support
for immigrants and refugees declaring that "being an undocumented person
is not a crime."
"All migrants are children of God and all churches are urged to welcome
and advocate on their behalf," said Mefford.
Many within the church disagree and instead call for increased
militarization of the border, use of local law enforcement to enforce
federal immigration laws and more deportations and detentions.
Calls and e-mails to United Methodist Communications about Arellano's
sanctuary in a United Methodist church asked how the church could
support someone who was disobeying the laws of the United States. One
writer accused her of being "an attention-grabbing criminal alien and
immigration fugitive" and of using her son as a tool for staying in the
United States.
Family life
The denomination's stance has consistently upheld public policy aimed at
preserving families and strengthening family life, according to church
officials.
"One thing we should not lose sight of is that Elvira Arellano
represents thousands of families who face the same terrible situation
every day. Some of these families are having parents deported on this
very day," said Bishop Minerva Carcaņo, who leads the church in the
Phoenix area.
Carcaņo and members of the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops
traveled in July across the border between Arizona and Sonora, Mexico,
"to immerse ourselves in the experience of the immigrant journeying into
the United States." (See commentary by Bishop Carcãno at provide link.)
"What we saw was both disturbing and hopeful," the bishop writes.
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Northern Illinois area, has supported Arellano and
Adalberto United Methodist Church's decision to offer her sanctuary.
"As a United Methodist Christian, Elvira's witness and struggle is part
of our witness," said Jung. "Her risk-taking and courage is a statement
of faith and conviction. The church is called to advocate for justice
and full human rights in every immigrant community of every country."
*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in
Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470
or newsdesk@umcom.org.
********************
United Methodist News Service
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http://umns.umc.org
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