Church Isn't Sacred
Immigration officials are all prissy about picking up an illegal immigrant, simply because she's holed up in a church, as if there's some magic doormat there they can't cross. Here, I'll help them: March on in, boys, a lady in that church is breaking the law. An excerpt from the AP story:
CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Immigration enforcement officers do not plan to enter a church where a single mother sought sanctuary rather than submit to deportation to Mexico, a government official said Friday.But Elvira Arellano, 31, and her supporters say only a stay of deportation will ensure that she and her 7-year-old son, an American citizen, are not forcibly removed from the Adalberto United Methodist Church.
"The situation doesn't change," Arellano said in Spanish.
Arellano has been living in the church since Tuesday, when she was supposed to surrender to authorities for deportation.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had said they would apprehend Arellano at a time and place "of their choosing" and that nothing prevented them from going into the church.
But on Friday, a government official close to the case said immigration agents have decided against entering the church to remove Arellano.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because it is against ICE policy to discuss operational matters, said the Arellano case carries "no more priority than any of the other 500,000 fugitives nationally."
Arellano will be apprehended "at an appropriate time and place," the official said.
Ridiculous.
And mammaries are just big bags of fat. And yet...
Paul Hrissikopoulos at August 19, 2006 11:43 AM
So which is more sickening? That the church would aid a felon or that the media would present this as some sort of "victim"?
Radwaste at August 19, 2006 7:51 PM
Or that the parent of an american citizen and the citizen himself are being forcibly removed from his homeland in the first place.
megan campbell at August 20, 2006 5:30 AM
"Parent of an American citizen." Isn't that a crock. This must be changed -- this law where we let people who are here illegally, who pump out babies, have their children become citizens. We shouldn't be rewarding illegal behavior with citizenship for spawn.
Amy Alkon at August 20, 2006 7:39 AM
Agree 100%, Amy.
Brenda at August 20, 2006 7:59 AM
It's me (the Christian again). It's not the building that is sacred, in my opinion. The "Church" is supposed to be the people within the building. If she's breaking the law, then she's already sinned. March in and drag her out kicking and screaming! If you break the law, you break the law. I think she's had ample opportunity to resolve matters in dignified manner.
Sharon at August 21, 2006 11:33 AM
I hear what you're saying about the law being a crock, I worked with people in this country on visas and the moment they step foot over the border they start looking for someone to have children with. There should be a law preventing this type of behavior, but when was the last time a bunch of politicians got their thumbs out of their asses long enough to agree on a different interpretation of the constitution?
megan at August 22, 2006 7:02 AM
But then again a lot of these people do the work we won't better and faster than most people could or would, for that matter. In almost all respects they are an asset to the communities they live in.
megan at August 29, 2006 6:11 AM
Come up with data to prove that, including the economics (sucking off our medical system and using our schools), and then work to change the law.
Amy Alkon at August 29, 2006 6:49 AM
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