Posted by
Paco Capella on Thursday, August 23, 2007 1:07:15 AM
Let set the record straight from what I've collected since Nov. 2006.
Elvira Arellano, 32 years old women from Michoacán, Mexico, is certainly an amazing human being.
On August 1997, Elvira entered illegally to the US, was arrested, deported by the US Government, and few days later (on or around August 30, 1997) she illegally re-entered to the US and settles somewhere in Oregon for 3 years.
In 1998, she gave birth to Saul Arellano; her son is by birthplace a US Citizen. Currently, we do not know much what she did for a living during her 3 years in Oregon, or about Saul’s father. According to some sources, Saul was born on December 18, 1998 in Toppenish, Washington. Saul’s unknown father abandoned his mother when she was 3 months pregnant with him.
In 2000, Elvira moved to Chicago, Illinois and made her living as an airplane cabin cleaner at the O’Hare’s International Airport. She used the social security number belonging to an old woman to get this job.
In 2002, a post 9/11 personnel screening at the airport yield with her arrest, convicted for using a social security number belonging to an 82 years old woman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin in order to obtain her employment, and sentenced to 3 years probation. Illinois State Laws allowed Elvira to reside legally in the State. The US Government has allowed her to remain on US soil for short time periods. The US Government has extended these periods a couple of times upon request of Congress legislators and civil leaders in their hope on pending private legislation pardoning and legalizing her residential status.
On August 15, 2006, Elvira failed to appear before immigration authorities and seek refuge at the Adalberto United Methodist church located at 2716 West Division, Humboldt Park area of Chicago to avoid arrest and deportation.
On November 14, 2006, Elvira’s son, Saul Arellano went to Mexico City to appear before the Congreso de la Unión de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, that is, the Mexican Congress. The Mexican lawmakers issued a resolution urging our US Government to halt deportation of Elvira and other Mexican nationals who are parents of US Citizens children.
On May 3, 2007, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) introduced H.R. 2182, which would grant legal immigrant status, with the possibility of applying for permanent residence status, to Arellano as well as to thirty-three other people. Congress referred the bill to the House Committee on the Judiciary and presently has not moved out of committee level.