Deportation of Arellano galvanizes movement

Activists and supporters of the immigrant rights movement have stepped up their tactics and organizing in the face of the U.S. government’s increased repression against immigrants—including deaths at detention centers and the arrest and deportation of Elvira Arellano.

Elvira Arellano with civil rights leader Jacqueline Jackson.

On Aug. 15 some 10 immigrant rights activists, including four women from Hermandad Mexicana, were arrested after blocking traffic outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles to demand full legalization of currently undocumented immigrants and an end to the raids and deportations terrorizing immigrant workers. Dozens of supporters participated in the demonstration. Their court date is Sept. 7.

Also on Aug. 15 at the Los Angeles Federal Building demonstrators exposed the inhuman treatment of immigrant detainees resulting in recent unnecessary deaths. Victoria Arellano, a transgender woman, was denied medical treatment resulting in her death on July 20.

John Parker, International Action Center-L.A. coordinator, arrested at immigration rally in Los Angeles. WW photo: Cheryl LaBash

Four days later, immigrant worker, mother and activist Elvira Arellano (no relation to Victoria) was arrested in Los Angeles and deported to Mexico. Arellano, who had been in sanctuary with her son, Saulito, in a Chicago church for the past year, left the church recently to participate in a speaking tour on immigrant rights.

Since the beginning of her sanctuary, Arellano’s struggle—to remain in the United States to work and take care of her son—had galvanized the movement for immigrant rights, and this newest provocation against her has only increased the dedication of the movement.

Despite pouring rain, the May 1st Coalition held a major press conference and picket at the Federal Plaza in New York on Aug. 21 in support of Elvira Arellano and revolutionary Chilean activist Victor Toro, who also faces deportation.

A press release for the conference read in part: “Elvira’s deportation is an example of the unjust, cruel and brutal immigration policy of this country.

“In recent days, the Bush administration and the Department of Homeland Security have announced plans on immigration policy that aim to drive immigrants further and further underground. Their aim is not to deport the 14 million undocumented in this country but to force this reserve army of labor into a more manageable and super-exploitable pool of workers.

Brenda Stokely of the NY Solidarity Coalition for Katrina/Rita Survivors leads chant at immigration rally in New York. WW photo: Anne Pruden

“This attack drives down wages on all workers, U.S. and foreign born. The raids are meant to tell all workers in this country that they had better not fight back or organize for health care, job security and so on.

“Elvira’s decision to come out of sanctuary in a church in Chicago and go on a national speaking tour to speak against these policies is but one of many examples that immigrants and their activists will not be intimidated.”

Present at the news conference were Nieves Ayres, Victor Toro Defense Committee; Walter Sinche, Pachamama Organization; Teresa Gutierrez, May 1st Coalition; Larry Holmes, Troops Out Now Coalition; Brenda Stokely, Katrina Survivors Coalition; Sharon Black, Women’s Fightback Network; Alba Mota, May 1st Coalition; Marina Diaz, Guatemalan Immigrant Rights Group; Mike Gimbel, AFSCME Local 375 of District Council 37; Rita Dentino of Casa Freehold; Comrade Shahid of Pakistan/U.S.A. Freedom Forum; and representatives of the Hip Hop Movement Rebel Diaz.

The press conference showed diverse support for Elvira and solidarity between immigrants and U.S. workers. Everyone at the conference called for mass actions Sept. 12.

Gutierrez said, “Sept. 12 will be a day of national action in defense of immigrants. There will be hunger strikes, demonstrations in New York City, Washington, D.C., and around the country. In addition, the May 1st coalition will accompany Victor Toro on Sept. 12 to Buffalo, where a hearing on his case will be heard. September 12 will resonate to the White House and to the callous border walls in Arizona and Texas. All out for Sept. 12!”

Of Arellano’s deportation and the recent developments in the immigrant rights struggle, Javier Rodriguez of the May 1 National Movement and the March 25 Coalition in Los Angeles said, “Elvira’s case is uniting the movement, people from different backgrounds and points of view are coming together in one united struggle. This is a tremendous development.”

Cheryl LaBash contributed to this report.

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