Boy Fighting Mom's Battle To Stay In U.S.

Asks Mexican Congress For Help, Weeks After An Appeal To Bush

(CBS/AP)  Mexico's Congress was swayed Tuesday by a 7-year-old boy on a mission to keep his mom in the U.S.

Second-grader Saul Arellano, a U.S. citizen, appeared in Mexico's 500-member Chamber of Deputies to plead for help in lobbying Washington to stop the deportation of his mother, an illegal immigrant who has taken refuge in a Chicago church.

His efforts paid off with a unanimous resolution calling on the Bush administration to suspend the deportation of Elvira Arellano and any other illegal immigrant parents of U.S. citizens.

If President Bush were to agree, it would "create a precedent that will benefit more than 4.9 million children who have been born in the United States and whose parents live under the threat of deportation," said Mexican Rep. Jose Jacques, who lived in the U.S. for 33 years and has an American daughter and granddaughter.

Flashing cameras and swarms of reporters surrounded the boy as he entered the massive chamber. But instead of stepping up to the podium, he was swept into a side room, where he hid his face and ducked under a table after lawmakers rose from their seats to shake his hand.

"I think being so small he was kind of freaked," said Jesus Carlin, who identified himself as a friend of the family.

Arellano then took the microphone and, speaking softly in Spanish, described what he wanted from Mexico's lawmakers: "I want them to tell President Bush to end the deportations so that my mother and other families can stay together in the United States."

The Arellanos have had some help in their campaign, from the Chicago-based immigrant rights group Centro Sin Fronteras and its president, Emma Lozano, who says the case is being used as an example to send a strong message to Congress on the issue of immigration.

U.S. federal officials say there is no right to sanctuary in a church under U.S. law, and nothing to prevent them from arresting Elvira Arellano, who has lived at the church since Aug. 15, the day she was supposed to surrender for deportation. But so far, they have not moved to seize her, and support for their case has grown among U.S. politicians.

Arellano, 31, said she sent her son to her homeland because she believes the Mexican government has the ability to help her.

"If the Mexican government can negotiate a free-trade agreement, they can negotiate a good accord to keep families from being split up," she said.

Arellano said she was nervous about sending her son, who had never before traveled to Mexico. Saul was afraid his mother would be deported while he was gone. "I told him to be calm, everything would be fine and I would be here waiting for him."

President Vicente Fox, who leaves office Dec. 1, failed during his six-year term to persuade the U.S. Congress to approve a migration accord allowing thousands of Mexicans to work legally in the United States. While President Bush personally supports a temporary guest worker program, Republicans in Congress opted to strengthen border security instead.

Rep. Andres Bermudez from Fox's National Action Party - who years ago crossed illegally into California and has three children born in the U.S. - said that all Mexican lawmakers can do is draw attention to the "unjust" case. "We can't order the U.S. government to do something against the law," he said.

Arellano said she should not have to choose between leaving her son behind in the U.S. or bringing him to Mexico, away from his school, friends and familiar environment.

Conservative columnists and anti-illegal immigration activists say she put herself and her son in this difficult spot by repeatedly breaking the law.

Arellano illegally crossed into the United States in 1997 and was deported shortly afterward. She returned within days, living for three years in Oregon before moving to Chicago in 2000.

She was arrested two years later at O'Hare International Airport, where she worked as a cleaning woman. Convicted of working under a false Social Security number, she served three years probation before being ordered to appear at the immigration office in Chicago.

Fox spokesman Ruben Aguilar told reporters Tuesday that the Mexican Consulate in Chicago has been in constant contact with Elvira Arellano and "will continue working to help Mrs. Arellano obtain authorization from the U.S. Government to remain in the United States."

The Mexican government acknowledges "that a U.S. law has been broken," Aguilar added. "But we think there exist certain elements of a humanitarian nature that should be taken into account to avoid splitting up the family."

[susanhelit]

So, Mexico's president and congress agree that Mexico is no fit place to live? Come on now. This is not about splitting up a family, this is about a mother and child living where they should have been living all along. And Mexico is not that bad - I'd feel more inclined if this kid was from the Congo or someplace else where there are real, major problems.

And a 7 year old kid - cute for the papers, but he'd also like to lobby for unlimited ice cream before bed, and no more vegetables either!

[webdepot]

typical heartless attitude..

[olebd]

Give me a break CBS/AP. This lady BROKE THE LAW not once but TWICE!!! Also had a false social security number....that's almost as bad as identity theft.

What a slap in the face who go through this country legally!!!

Either put her in jail or send her back....if you want to be nice, send her back to a resort community in Mexico WITH her son that she chose to have. Then, after say 2 years, give her a chance to come in legally.

Enough debate already.

How is America going stay afloat in the future if it doesn't get a grip on the exact number of people who are draining the system?

[kemetorigin]

Well said SusanHelit.

[pima6]

if bush agrees to this, every illegal immigrant will be *** like rabbits trying to have american babies. just what we need, more children brought into this world for the wrong reason.

[pakaal]

America has been an inclusive country from day one, and because of it we've been fortunate enough to have had such people as Isaac Asimov, Alexander Graham Bell, Albert Einstein, Henry Kissinger, Arnold Schwarzenegger, even the new RNC head Mel Martinez as naturalized citizens! People who are against immigrants coming here should consider our history as a nation and the benefits achieved from an open immigration policy.

[howdyrowdy53]

Enough is enough! When you see the Mexican students of Montebello High in Whittier, CA holding a flagpole with the Mexican flag mounted at the top and the American flag mounted upside down below it, I say it's time to kick ALL their butts out of the U.S. if they aren't legal.

[susanhelit]

"America has been an inclusive country from day one, and because of it we've been fortunate enough to have had such people as Isaac Asimov, Alexander Graham Bell, Albert Einstein, Henry Kissinger, Arnold Schwarzenegger, even the new RNC head Mel Martinez as naturalized citizens!" - all of whom came here _legally_. The problem is those who enter _illegally_. Huge difference.

[pakaal]

Saul is legal. He was born here.

[pakaal]

Tell you what, howdyrowdy53, when we get the folks down south to take down their Confederate flags (as opposed to flying the AMERICAN one), we can talk about appropriate flag-flying.

[texastruck1]

the lady BROKE THE LAW! We do not need people in this country who break the laws of our country. If having a child here will make them legal we will be over run with women having children and not able to take care of themselfs. What about the men? If they get the same privledge, how many women will they try to get pregnant so they can stay here?

[tnt9632]

If thier parents are here ILLEGALLY than there should be a law that they too are not citizens! That would stop this insanity! What other nation allows an non-citizen in the country without proper papers to have a child and that child is automatically a citizen of that country? NONE!

[lasherdc]

If you want to benefit from the American Dream or simply the American way of life, by prepared to follow American laws!!

[icstupidppl]

that Elvira Arellano is disgusting. sending her kid out to win her sympathy. she needs to be deported immediately. where are the ICE officials? do your job and bust in that door and send her back. why is everyone so worried about splitting her family when she broke the law? if that's the case, all convicted felons shouldn't go to jail. they all have a family, too! i also agree that there shouldn't be any anchor babies. that's why they have kids. to get welfare and use it as excuse from being deported.

[lasherdc]

I would support her deportation regardless, simply for being an illegal, but this is a ridiculous case---she was deported PREVIOUSLY and returned ILLEGALLY, BEFORE she had the child.

She got CAUGHT AGAIN AND with a counterfeit social security card no less!! What the #@&^!!! If there was ever the case for deportation, it is this one. The 14th Amendment should be amended to stop this anchor baby nonsense!! My grandparents waited NINE YEARS FOR A VISA TO IMMIGRANT LEGALLY FROM ENGLAND!! Elvira Arellano broke our federal laws more than once! Follow the law or hit the road!!!

[dwilliams191]

Pakaal---we are not against LEGAL immigration! The problem is ILLEGAL immigration. If you want to come here, go about it the legal way. Mexican corruption is not my problem. If you want to come here to escape it, get a visa! Short of that, don't come and if you do be prepared to bear the consequences!!

(And what is your beef with the Stars and Bars? It has nothing to do with the folks disrespecting the US flag in LA. The Confederate Flag is flow by Southerners who are proud of their southern heritage or respecting their Civil War relatives. It existed long before the Klan coopted it as a symbol, much like the peaceful swastika was used by Buddists in Asia for CENTURIES before Hitler borrowed it!

[olebd]

Furthermore, impose a hefty fine on the hotel that she worked for (I'm sure they knew *** well she was illegal.) And the church where she was hiding. Several other people should be charged with aiding and abeting. Set the example so other law breakers finally get the frickin' message.

[gizmotique]

I am repulsed by the fact that a child was used to reinforce breaking the laws of our country. I believe that if President Fox and other Mexican officials want to put pressure on our government to keep illegal immigrants here, our Congress and President should insist that Mexico become our 51st state. Let them be a part of this nation. If they don't want that, they need to quit milking us.

[laurieleemoo]

why is it that everyone in the world seems to think that they just simply have the rights to American soil? And why is it that everyone in the world thinks they have the right to american benefits from american taxpayer dollars?

Do they think that this is a world where you can just hop on into any country, use all their benefits and take all their jobs without ever having to pay taxpayer dollars yourself? Do they think they can just walk into any country and break their laws with total disregard and stand on their soil defiantly protesting because they do not agree with the laws? How far do they think they would get if they tried to do this is any other country? Oh, and do the mexican people think they are more special than any other people in the world or something? I mean why should they be able to butt in line in front of all the other people in the world who want to come here, but have to wait in line.? I sure would love to here their answers to my questions here as I think I have asked some good ones, don't you?

And lastly, do they think we should REWARD them for this bad behavior only to encourage more people to do the same thing?

I mean, really....lets all be honest here!!!!

[sharncedar]

Ok then don't deport her. How about a forced labor camp so she can pay back some of what she's taken from America. She can pay for her son's $1,000,000 he will cost to US taxpayers to fund his "education" and either his prison or welfare after that

[Jasonian18]

unfortunately this article disappoints me because they believe they have a right to our soil because of our past foreign policies and immigration policies allowing them in legally but unfortunately they don't understand that if they don't do that legally then they anger us American born citizens and make us want to kick em all out and all their drugs back with them. I have to agree with Bush on this one a workers thing would be just what this situation would call for allowing for us to sleep peacably knowing no more mexicans will be ilegally crossing our borders

...now what to do about America's national language staying English we need to teach them that if they want to live in America they have to speak English or no deal!!! we should have a big legal migration school in the edges of Mexico that says if they want to enter they have to learn a business that they could use and they have to legally enter along with checking in to a police department in their area every 160 days or so about every half year that i could see working but all illegal immigrants should learn English and pay for all the danged welfare they have been stealing from us all of these years!

[nadeau4201]

If it was an American that used false social security documents they would be thrown in jail for fraud. His rightful opportunities are you kidding me? Can you tell me why the only ones who seem to want them here are the politicians and the last time I checked we the people pay their salaries why are they not listening to us. Do they need the vote that bad to put Americans in danger by not securing our borders.It tells me what I've always known the government and the devils running it could care less about the American people. Their only objective is to drain the middleclass and wipe them out completly. Ruin whatever family values we have left. Our government is being run by lobbyist and special interest groups only out for themselves. And for those who elected these new faces in congress out of spite instead of intellect(Nancy Pelosi)good luck to you when they stab you in the back they all do sooner or later dems and rep there all the same.

[cbgb31]

Here's an idea, how about the boy goes back to Mexico with his mother. It's a nice country. I've been there quite a few times. It's a safe country with warm friendly people. What's the big deal? Does Canada deport Americans, Yes. Does France deport Americans, yes. Does Germany,Belgium,Japan, yes yes and yes. Is Vicente Fox a mad dictator that is going to butcher these people?

[humanhybrid-2009]

What in the name of humanity can any American complain that the underprevliged poor and orphened children be cast as criminals? Shame SHAME on you all. Respect for law of the country one lives in, you say dont you? While the rich COME to Mexico to exploit the natural resourses "people" through the NAFTA agreements. All of you here are shamefull here who dont see that if the facteries are not full working and making the Americans rich in Mexico then we Americans CANT brag about how the stocks are making a return. Dam we must keep those Mexicans in Mexico and not here in the USA making a descent wage. While we send millions to Isreal to kill Palistinians on their own land and Billions to Iraq to kill 500 thousand of innocent civilians etc etc. Why cant we be more sympathetic to our neighbors who are not criminals nor terrorists. Are these the values that christians are purporting and exporting? Would this be an act of Christ?????????????

[humanhybrid-2009]

What in the name of humanity can any American complain that the underprevliged poor and orphened children be cast as criminals? Shame SHAME on you all. Respect for law of the country one lives in, you say dont you? While the rich COME to Mexico to exploit the natural resourses "people" through the NAFTA agreements. All of you here are shamefull here who dont see that if the facteries are not full working and making the Americans rich in Mexico then we Americans CANT brag about how the stocks are making a return. Dam we must keep those Mexicans in Mexico and not here in the USA making a descent wage. While we send millions to Isreal to kill Palistinians on their own land and Billions to Iraq to kill 500 thousand of innocent civilians etc etc. Why cant we be more sympathetic to our neighbors who are not criminals nor terrorists. Are these the values that christians are purporting and exporting? Would this be an act of Christ?????????????

[humanhybrid-2009]

What in the name of humanity can any American complain that the underprevliged poor and orphened children be cast as criminals? Shame SHAME on you all. Respect for law of the country one lives in, you say dont you? While the rich COME to Mexico to exploit the natural resourses "people" through the NAFTA agreements. All of you here are shamefull here who dont see that if the facteries are not full working and making the Americans rich in Mexico then we Americans CANT brag about how the stocks are making a return. Dam we must keep those Mexicans in Mexico and not here in the USA making a descent wage. While we send millions to Isreal to kill Palistinians on their own land and Billions to Iraq to kill 500 thousand of innocent civilians etc etc. Why cant we be more sympathetic to our neighbors who are not criminals nor terrorists. Are these the values that christians are purporting and exporting? Would this be an act of Christ?????????????

[humanhybrid-2009]

What in the name of humanity can any American complain that the underprevliged poor and orphened children be cast as criminals? Shame SHAME on you all. Respect for law of the country one lives in, you say dont you? While the rich COME to Mexico to exploit the natural resourses "people" through the NAFTA agreements. All of you here are shamefull here who dont see that if the facteries are not full working and making the Americans rich in Mexico then we Americans CANT brag about how the stocks are making a return. Dam we must keep those Mexicans in Mexico and not here in the USA making a descent wage. While we send millions to Isreal to kill Palistinians on their own land and Billions to Iraq to kill 500 thousand of innocent civilians etc etc. Why cant we be more sympathetic to our neighbors who are not criminals nor terrorists. Are these the values that christians are purporting and exporting? Would this be an act of Christ?????????????

[cbgb31]

humanhybrid, grow up. You sound like you're seventeen. If Mexico could get it's act together they'd be able to provide jobs to their people.

[humanhybrid-2009]

Grow up? Im probably older than you say 45? Gotcha Mexico just is not as economically developed. Do we condem people for that? Sorry for the double post accident! good day

[gizmotique]

Send lobbyists into Mexico to plant the idea of US statehood as their way to a better life. They want to come here so badly, let's just take our nation to them on a platter, as in......stir up rebels down there who want Mexico to be annexed by the United States. I am sick of this illegal immigration mess, and they can either put up or shut up. They want the US to be Mexican, however, not for Mexico to be US. I think it is time for a Mexican revolution.

[humanhybrid-2009]

If you want to benefit from the American Dream or simply the American way of life, by prepared to follow American laws!!
Posted by lasherdc at 07:47 PM : Nov 14, 2006 Our own president of the USA doesnt, should he by prepared to follow American laws!! Lets bring our troops home! and stop the waste of life and the war profiteers. Lets take care of our own and our neighbors who are not criminals nor terrorists. Lets stop being war mongers for those freinds of *** inc. who are at the pig bin. good day

[humanhybrid-2009]

That was *** Cheny inc. I thought?

[humanhybrid-2009]

And I would agree Mexico is a wonderful country. Its called a Freeeeeeeeeeeee country. With some of the most beutiful women in the world. But dont break the law. You live long to know what respect is. Family values flourish in Mexico and brings stability and happiness. They dont deserve to be treated with this hostilities and the walls. good day!

[cantshutup]

mexico is a bad child that needs to be put in its place

[xbrobinson]

Mexico should clean up thier corruption and provide for its people, instead of having thier poor,risk thier lives to get here. Instead of passing a resolution to have thier people stay here, they should take care of thier own! They don't have to provide a decent wage, education, or opportunity for its poor. Mexico will not provide for its poor. They know the US will do it. US Congress should be mad as hell at the Mexican Congress'nerve. Wasn't this woman convicted of welfare fraud? If she was, she needs to GO! Some immigrants do work hard,they are to be commended, Also ENGLISH should be the offical language. If you go to any other country you must know the language to live. The US is a sucker, a laughing stock of the WORLD. I am an immigrant, bilingual, Spanish speaking. Many illegals see the US as a joke. They don't care about this country, they live here, they still love Mexico, a country that won't even provide for them. I hear a lot of Mexicans say, if they ever bring back the draft they are going back to Mexico. I am also a Veteran a lot of them feel only fools join the military. Congress should make military service mandatory for anyone who is illegal, 18 years and older,it should be one of the conditions for citizenship for illegals. Forget a $2,000 fine. Let them earn it,no VA benefits,for VA benefits 7 years service. If you are staying in this country and enjoying the benefits you should be willing to die for it.

[abbe7]

I wonder why the congress didn't jump on the case yet. They were so fast for the Schiavo story ...
Is Bush in Crawford ?

[biermang]

RIGHT ON xbrobinson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ngbezmt]

The basic problem rest with the US & Mexican Governments. They could collectively fix the problem if the wished. Many small towns in the us are starting to pass laws that impose large fines for businesses that aid, rent to and/or hire the illegals. If this was a national policy it would fix the problem in short order. Stop the handouts and the illegals could not exist in the USA.

[dr_j_g]

About corruption - didn't pentagon have some ludicrous expense accounts, such as pencils for twenty dollars or some such thing? Aren't congress and senate lobbyists, a profession that is official only in US mind you, doing some corrupting? Didn't the well-to-do US kids stay out of the draft, mostly, in general?
Poorer nations are just that - poorer, not necessarily more corrupt by definition. People leave to go to US for the same reason Mayflower people did, US appears as a torch-bearer for hope of a new and better life.

[oleander8]

To: xbrobinson .........

Stop and take a breath - you are foaming at the mouth. The article said nothing about welfare fraud - she was working as a janitor. You "hear lots of Mexicans say..."? I don't think so.

[marlon7771]

xbrobinson,

I second that motion. The U.S is Mexico's welfare system. She should return to Mexico and raise her son there. Her son can return later when he is old enough to be on his own. - didn't she falsify and an application to get a job in security at Chicago O'Hare airport? Isn't that a punishable crime? That concerns me greatly.

I love the Mexican people but the ruling class there must help the poor. They have totally abandoned their resposiblity to less fortunate Mexicans. They have plenty of resources. Shameful!

[mjv2944]

Sorry, but no sympathy here. She broke the law coming here illegally and the church has no business sheltering this woman. We should not have to pay for Mexico's corruption and total disregard for their people. The Vatican has no business sicking their nose into our problem, especially comments about the border fence, coming out of a walled city. We need to secure our borders and enforce our laws and get tough with employers of illegals.

[laurieleemoo]

okay, well i'll tell you how this american can complain......i know quite a few AMERICANS who can not even go the the doctor because they can not afford to...and i don't see any POLITICIANS the american people screaming to save them. Why don't you save your HOT AIR for screaming about all the american chilren/people who are out there who do not meet the qualifications for government help because they are JUST above the poverty level.....not rich, mind you.......just above the poverty level. They have jobs, yet no health insurance with their jobs. They can not afford to pay the doctor bills themselves...so they just go without. If they get pregnant, well they are really in trouble then because then they have these huge bills and also no health benefits for their newborn. American children (including newborns DIE because of it everyday. So, before you go getting yourself in a TIZZY....look around american ***....right here on our own american soil what is happening to our own american people. WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO HELP THE WHOLE WORLD. THEY CAN NOT ALL BE SAVED........however, I should think we should at the VERY LEAST start worrying about OUR OWN. Then when we get that situation under control.......THEN MAYBE......we can talk about taking in all these mexicans who TAX our system TREMENDOUSLY.....until then.............your cries should fall on deaf ears. I really don't want to hear it about humanity -----'cause LOOK around america at all our american children you jerk!

[olebd]

It's so nice to see the general concensus here is against this nonsense.

The poor little, doe-eyed 7 year old..."fighting" to save his mother. Traveling all over the place to make his plea. Give me a break. There's a team of grown-ups proping him up against the camera. What the hell does a 7 year old know about the depth of this other than he might have to move.

Mommy broke the law. Laws have to be enforced for the good of all. Breaking the law is bad. Give him the real truth and maybe it will build his character and raise his moral standards for use when he is grown up.

[mystate]

Who would Jesus Deport? The person who is breaking the laws in this country. My job went overseas, outsourced. I can't afford health care. I am tired of the millions of people here illegally who are taking our jobs. I am tired of all the things outsourced to other countries. I can't even enjoy a glass of Crystal Light -- it's made in Mexico and yet there are millions coming here to take more of our jobs. Butterfingers is made in Venezula. When did all this happen and why is it happening? America is no longer for Americans. I now read all labels and I no longer buy items NOT made is America. I check out the souveniers from places I visit, again if it is not made in America, I don't buy it. If I hear Spanish being spoken in any place that I shop, I leave. Send them to their own country to stay, not to have their country demand that they stay here! Enter our country legally, then you have rights. Not legal - no rights - go home.

[meeche1]

Deport her - Do not set a precedent because she is sending her kid all over to plead her case. Where is the family getting all the money for the kid to fly back and forth from Washington DC to Mexico to all over? This is probably a set-up case by some Mexican Lawyer to set a precedent and the illegals are using a 7 year old kid to do their dirty work. She broke the law - Deport her - and the kid.

[laurieleemoo]

mystate---wouldn't it be great if we had a great moderate leader who would say, okay.....Republicans you go get our jobs/moeny back from oversea....and Democrats you go and get rid of all the illegal mexicans. Wouldn't american be so much better off if we just did those two things.

[laurieleemoo]

Oh....and to the pope....save your condemnation for all those gay priest who molest little boys, why don't you? I haven't heard you or the other pope condemn them yet. Oh and there are a lot of other countries out there too by the way that could use a little condemning. There's a lot going out there in the world----I should think you would be able to keep yourself plenty busy rather than spend your time condemninng the world's most humane country. Don't you think Mr. Pope?

[meeche1]

This doesn't even deserve space in the newspapers - it is all fixed to stir up some support for the illegals. Deport this witch and her kid who are probably being used as a test case to challenge the laws in America. Every single one of the 15 million who are here illegaly broke our American laws to sneak in.If we did that in Mexico - we would be in jail forever - American Politicians are just kissing up to the illegals to get their votes and it stinks. These illegals are killing America - our way of life has sunk down to their welfare level because we have to support them - they send all their money back to Mexico because everything is FREE for them here. If Bush falls for this - he can go to Mexico

[zoroastor]

Who outsourced the jobs? The companies who wanted more more more, the politicians who believed that a global economy is imminent and somehow good for us, and the unions who wanted more more more. This woman and her child did not outsource jobs. I'd be willing to bet that no white Americans are standing in line to get the job she has. She pays taxes and contributes to our economy. Set a precedent. Let them all stay, and then toughen up the borders, so that no more jobs at the bean bag factories are taken from good red-blooded white Americans.