Illegal alien threatens 'campaign of resistance'

Monday, July 2, 2007 INVASION USA Illegal alien threatens 'campaign of resistance' Fugitive in 'sanctuary' demands suspension of immigration laws Posted: July 2, 2007 5:40 p.m. Eastern © 2007 WorldNetDaily.com An illegal alien who has taken refuge in a Chicago-area church after defying federal law by refusing to follow a deportation order now is calling for the suspension of the nation's immigration laws and a "campaign of resistance." Following the failure of U.S. Senate plan that would have created a legal status for the 12-20 million illegal aliens already in the U.S., Mexican activist Elvira Arellano demanded an immediate moratorium be imposed on all raids and deportations. In a written statement from the La Raza newspaper, publicized by a the Chicago Fox News affilate's blog, she said "if the Democrats and the Republicans cannot summon the courage to fix the broken law we will not sit quietly and see our families and our children cut to pieces on the broken pieces of that broken law." Arellano has been confined – voluntarily – to a church in the Chicago area since Aug. 15 to avoid being deported. She said such a moratorium would allow time for the U.S. to "revive and pass a comprehensive immigration reform." Without such action, her statement continued, immigrant organizations would launch a campaign "aimed at bringing this government and this economy to a halt." Several other groups also joined in her threat, confirming the plans for "economic sanctions" against companies that support "anti-immigration legislators." WND readers, however, had had enough. "We have more than enough laws to get rid of illegal aliens," wrote Ken Lowder in an e-mail. "Security on the border is real easy. Establish a 100 yard zone along the border. … Put in an all weather road for troop movement. Set up a support bunker every few miles. Put an ARMED Marine, soldier, or national guardsman every 10 yards and shooting everyone who comes across for being an INVADER that they are. Any general that says we can't do this is to be immediately relieved and fired." (BLOGGER AGREES) As WND has reported, the Senate's "comprehensive" immigration plan failed by a significant margin after senators' offices were flooded with tens of thousands of calls from citizens expressing opposition. They have demanded that the U.S. first enforce the existing laws banning entry into the U.S. by the midnight express. However, WND also has reported Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff says the federal government doesn't even have the ability to enforce its own laws. Michael Chertoff "We're going to continue to enforce the law. It's going to be tough," Chertoff said. "We don't really have the ability to enforce the law with respect to illegal work in this country in a way that's truly effective." Chertoff said Senate opponents deprived his department of the ability to ensure stricter enforcement by requiring companies to enter a system to check their employees' work status. "That would be the single greatest additional weapon we could use if we're serious about tackling this problem," he said. "I wish we had some of the tools that were left on the floor of the Senate when they abandoned the bill last week, but we will do what we have to do with the resources we have at our disposal." However, the issue is quite simple, according to Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.: The government needs to do what it is supposed to in order to win back the trust of the American people. "A lot of Americans have lost faith in their government," Kyl said. "They don't think we can control our borders, win a war, issue passports, solve other problems. So they ask this question … why should we give more power to the government to do things it hasn't been willing to do in the past?" On a Chicago Fox News blog, the reaction to Arellano's demands were strong: "I do not feel sorry for this multiple criminal illegal offender who whines and moans and complains about the injustice of her situation. … She has overstayed her welcome; she continues to be a criminal and break our laws. This is not her country," wrote "therman4." Added "GregCast": "No longer will we tolerate people jumping our borders, wreaking havoc on our social services and destroying our wages for their own selfish benefit. This is OUR country and we are going to take it back!" Said "Mommacat": "After re-reading this I want to point out something here … This statement: 'Otherwise, pro-immigrant organizations will begin a campaign ' aimed at bringing this government and this economy to a halt.'' Seems kind of threatening to this nation and the citizens who live here. I believe this could be viewed as a possible terrorist threat! I mean, what else could be assumed by someone wanting to bring the government and the economy to a halt! Wasn't that part of the goal of the 9/11 attack?" Arellano has been ordered deported but instead of reporting for the process, she took refuge in Aldaberto United Methodist Church. She had been apprehended as part of an investigation named Operation Chicagoland Skies, an attempt to track down terrorists, which actually captured more illegal aliens. Patricia Mendoza of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund called it a public relations stunt. "These are all people who were basically trying to make a life for themselves and their families," she said. Arellano was caught because she used a fake Social Security number and was working at a Chicago airport, where security has been heightened. But she refused to cooperate and took up residence in the church, from which she now runs the activist lobby United Latino Family. She has said she'll stay there indefinitely. "If Homeland Security chooses to send agents to a holy place, I could know that God wants me to serve as an example of the hatred and hypocrisy of the current administration," Arellano was quoted as saying. Federal authorities say she isn't "less deportable" legally because she is in a church, but it would look bad politically "to be hauling people out of churches." Editor's note: The current edition of WND's monthly Whistleblower is a cutting-edge look at the federal government's immigration policies – and how the nation's most vexing problem can be solved. It's titled "NATIONAL SUICIDE: How the government's immigration policies are destroying America."