[NYTr] Action Alert: Immigrant Activist Leaves Church Sanctuary, Gets Arrested

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by Andy Pollack

National Immigrant Solidarity Network Alert - Aug 19, 2007 7:07 PM EDT

Emergency Alert! 

Immigrant Activist  Elvira Arellano Arrested in Los Angeles! 

Your URGENT Support is  Needed!
 
Elvira Arellano, the immigration activist who  sought refuge inside a
Chicago church for a year was arrested in Los Angeles  this afternoon
after taking her campaign on the road. We need to act quickly to
demand her release!  

Chicago Tribune - Aug 20, 2007 issue (posted Aug 19, 2007) 
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-elvira_web.1aug20,1,5166191.story?coll=chi_breaking_500


Immigration activist Arellano  arrested

By Antonio Olivo
Chicago Tribune 
 
LOS ANGELES?--An immigration activist who sought refuge inside a
Chicago church for a year was arrested in Los Angeles this afternoon
after taking her campaign on the road.
 
Elvira Arellano was arrested about 4:15 p.m. Chicago time by
law-enforcement officials after leaving Our Lady Queen of Angels Church
in  downtown Los Angeles, said Emma Lozano, an adviser who was there
during the  arrest. 

After talking to news media inside the church, Arellano and her
supporters got into their van to head north to San Jose, where she was
scheduled to speak at another church, Lozano said. Moments after they
entered the van, an unmarked  vehicle stopped them.
 
The driver of Arellano's van, Roberto Lopez, poked his head out because
he wanted to see why they were being blocked. Several other unmarked
vehicles surrounded their van.
 
Agents emerged from all the cars screaming for Arellano to get out,
Lozano said. Her 8-year-old son, Saul, started to cry, and Arellano
said to everyone in  the car, "Calm down. Don't have any fear. They
can't hurt me." 

Then she turned to the people who were about to arrest her and she
said, "You're going to have to give me a minute with my son," Lozano
said. She spent time with her son in the car, then surrendered.
 
Arellano was arrested on Main Street, near the church, where she slept  
Saturday night and where she's held several press conferences Saturday
and  today. 

Suggested Immediate Actions to Support Her:
 
1) Call U.S. Immigration and Customs  Enforcement (ICE) office, demand
them the safety of the Elvira Arellano, no  deportation, and demand her
immediately release from the ICE  custody.
 
ICE Field Office Director, Los Angeles
300 North Los  Angeles St., Room 7631A
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone:  213-830-7911
 
ICE Headquarters, Director, Office of Detention and Removal  Operations
801 I St, NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC  20536
Phone: 202-305-2734
  
2) Daily peace vigil at the Los Angeles  ICE office until Elvira
Arellano's safe release.

ICE Field Office, Los Angeles
300 North Los Angeles  St., Room 7631A
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone:  213-830-7911

=================================================================
National Immigrant Solidarity Network
No Immigrant  Bashing! Support Immigrant Rights!
web: http://www.ImmigrantSolidarity.org
e-mail: info at ImmigrantSolidarity.org
New  York: (212)330-8172
Los Angeles: (213)403-0131
Washington D.C.:  (202)595-8990