For three years on the streets and one year in sanctuary, Elvira Arellano’s courageous witness of faith brought the issue of family unity into the middle of the immigration debate. By July of this year the situation had changed and her faith required new action, new commitment.
Not only did the Senate fail to act on comprehensive immigration reform, but the political leadership of both the House and the Senate stated unequivocally that the immigration debate was dead until after the next election. At the same time, Homeland Security began to escalate raids, deportations, separation of families and no match sanctions. Declaring that three years of this holocaust was unacceptable, Elvira said, “I cannot sit by and watch millions of children like Saulito and millions of mothers like myself as their families are destroyed.”
A Familia Latina Unida delegation to Washington led by Emma Lozano and representing families from New York, Illinois, Miami and California confronted the democratic leadership on their “political cowardice” in July. Back in Chicago, the families publicly challenged Labor Unions, Democratic Party leaders and the Presidential candidates Clinton and Obama to take up the debate again in September.
After 15 days of prayer and fasting, Elvira determined to leave sanctuary and take the case for September Congressional action to Washington D.C. She began her journey to Washington in California.
“I came to confront two very powerful mothers, Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House, and Zoe Lofgren, chair of the subcommittee on immigration. They are the gatekeepers to the debate in September.” While I.C.E. chose to attempt to silence her voice through arrest and deportation, Elvira’s faith journey did not go unanswered. Armed only with the bond of love with her son, Arellano confronted the dragon of hate that is devastating this nation and forced the democratic leadership to reopen the immigration debate in the Congress, reversing their July position. Hearings will begin September 6th in Congress.
The second objective of project “Proclaim the Resurrection” was to reunify the movement which had become fragmented over arguments about pending legislation and disillusioned by the political determination to postpone the debate until after the next election while the repression escalated.
Following Elvira’s declaration to go to Washington, her journey to California and her subsequent arrest after speaking in six L.A. churches, the movement revived in cities across the country. “Elvira has put her foot in the door, now we must march as one and open it all the way.”The We Are All Elvira Arellano Coalition brought together previously feuding groups with new purpose and energy, determined now to force Congress to act in September. In Texas, an undocumented father said, “Finally, we have one of our own as a leader and she has united all the factions.”
As Elvira travels Mexico, speaking before the Mexican Congress and organizing for September 12 marches in Mexico, she stated simply that “I have a much bigger sanctuary now – all of Mexico is my sanctuary.” Elvira will not be in Washington on September 12th as she planned, but a delegation of Diputados from the Mexican Congress will attend in her behalf.
Meanwhile, Saul Arellano returned from a trip to Tiajuana where he was reassured of his mother’s well being. He determined to return to the United States, affirm his right as a U.S. citizen by enrolling in school and traveling to different cities to mobilize for September 12th. “Saul has a great faith that his mother will return to live with him in the United States. Jesus said, to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, you must have the faith of a little child. Who are we to deny that faith?” In the next few weeks, Saul will also travel back and forth to Mexico to be with his mother.
In fact, two private bills which would give Elvira legal status in the U.S. will be marked up in committee as soon as the month of September! The delegation to Washington will go armed with legislative proposals which better represent the demands of the undocumented and the families facing separation.
As preparations begin for the Day of Prayer on September 12th across the country and in Washington, with calls for “no work, no school and no shopping” on that day, Elvira has been invited to write regular columns in a dozen newspapers and has requests for dozens of t.v. and radio interviews. She will be an important part and a key spark in the September 12th mobilization. She has never wavered in her faith. Her voice – and more importantly her faith – have not been silenced!
