Is Elvira Arellano — the recently deported Mexican illegal alien — the new Rosa Parks?

Question

Some of her supporters describe her this way. But Arellano's credentials as a "role model," to say the least, fall short.

Indeed, even some "immigrant rights activists" find the comparison embarrassing. A check of the Web sites of the National Council of La Raza and the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund finds no statement one way or the other concerning Arellano.

Rosa Parks, a black woman, was born in 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama — that is, Tuskegee, Alabama, United States of America. She thus entered life as an American citizen, but was denied the rights and protections afforded by the U.S. Constitution.

Arellano sneaked into the country, not once but twice, and defied a deportation order by receiving "sanctuary" for over a year in a Chicago church.
Arellano gave birth on American soil to a son, now 8. But she does not speak of his father.

She condemns the U.S. government for "breaking up" her family because Saul (her son) remains in the U.S. while she reportedly lives with friends in Tijuana, Mexico. But Arellano chose to leave Saul behind, claiming that his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder requires better medical care than provided in Mexico.

Arellano's justification for illegally crossing the border? "I came to the United States to work. I came because of what NAFTA and other U.S. economic policies have done to my country, in which I could no longer find work that paid a living wage."

After her deportation to Mexico, she said: "The United States is the one who broke the law first. By letting people cross over (the border) without documents. By letting people pay taxes."

That's a new one.

As for the assertion that America "broke the law first," Arellano makes an interesting claim: The failure of America to effectively police its borders constitutes a criminal act that morally and legally justifies illegal entry into America.

Arellano's insulting demands simply harden hearts. Instead of displaying even a hint of gratitude, she lectures American citizens that her son has the same rights as President Bush. Who said he didn't?The Mexican Senate greeted Arellano like a conquering hero. It immediately passed a measure demanding that the president of Mexico send a diplomatic note to President Bush protesting the deportation. It also promised to provide a scholarship for Arel-lano's son. (To be used where?)

Answer 1

With Rosa Parks, you could argue that she was breaking an unjust law.

Arellano is breaking a law she merely dislikes, but which is in good legal standing, and she has put her son out for a target, and has mis-used the Church to help her in her crimes.

Answer 2

I'd laugh but it might induce vomiting.

Rosa Parks, her family and all the families of her friends and acquaintances had remained silent for 88 years, when, like us now, enough was ENOUGH!!!!

The government had made laws and ratified amendments for US...the CITIZENS OF THE United States... but had not ENFORCED them. So Ms. Parks just sat at the front of the bus as she had always had the right to do.

We have the right to go to the front of the line at every office Arellano's son went to get freebies [Or BETTER YET, to get medical care at a cost maintained as reasonable because NO GOVT MONEY DROVE THE PRICES UP IN THE 1ST PLACE!!]

We're ALL more dismayed by our govt's failure to ensure our protections even than Ms. Parks was then, which was enough of a mess.

The United States is a People with a Government. NOT the other way around!!!!




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Answer 3

1. Rosa Parks didn't break the law by coming illegally to the USA as she was already a citizen.

2. Rosa Parks was not deported then broke the law again entering the USA for a second time illegally.

3. Rosa Parks didn't steal or pay for someone else's SS#' and information documents to be here illegally and then got busted for it.

4. Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus in the days of segregation.

5. Rosa Parks didn't try to hold an entire country hostage for her cause by threatening to shut down the entire economy.

Those are the differences between a legal USA citizen and an illegal who thinks the USA owes her a living.

Answer 4

Her statement to the Mexican assemble was the USA is the one that broke the law first by not enforcing our immigration law. We do but not in her case. She has been arrested and deported twice then returned broke the law stealing someones ID to work. When caught sought sanctuary in a church knowing herself she broke the law.

Having a child was just the illegal game to stay in the country.

Her first two deportation went without a whisper or protest from the Mexican government.
It sure says something about their culture.

Answer 5

If she thinks that anyone son in the USA has the same rights as W who was born into a family of wealthy and privilege she is has been watching to much Fox News. As time goes on she will become a sad women who made all the wrong decisions for most of her life.

Answer 6

She may be. Who knows what the future will bring.

But what do you do with someone who illegally enters, is judicially deported with full due process, enters illegally again, has a child, is arrested for working in the security area of an airport with stolen documents, does not show up for her hearing to present a case for cancellation of removal, takes refuge in a church, leaves the refuge to be a high profile opponent of US immigration policy then doesn't understand why she is deported almost five years after she was notified of the possibility?

Failing to show up in court for a traffic ticket usually results in the issuance of a warrent for your arrest. What is the court going to do if it gives you every opportunity to present your case and you ignore them?

And the US government has never recognized a church's extraterritoriality. They were just being nice by not going in there and causing a scene. She was the one who insisted they come an get her.

Answer 7

She is an illegal alien. I'm really disgusted with the Catholic Church for allowing her to "live" there. So annoyed in fact, that I had stopped giving them any money in my envelopes. Now that she has been deported, I can begin giving again. Rosa was a citizen of the U.S. Arellano is an illegal alien. She needs to go home to Mexico. And her kid should go along with her.

Answer 8

Rosa Parks was a great woman who faught for equal rights.

Elvira Arellano is just a law breaker who stole someone's identity, ran and hid like a child when she was caught and then said it was our fault. Elvira is a criminal and she should only be treated as such.

Answer 9

One was an American with her Constitutional rights violated; the other is a foreigner and does not have Constitutional rights: no comparison.

By your strange criteria, anyone who runs a stop sign is not breaking the law because they were not caught and people are being invited to break the law because there is not a police officer standing next to every stop sign.

Answer 10

Was Rosa Parks a citizen of the United States because she had every right to be in the USA whereas this other person has NO RIGHT to be in the USA.
I believe comparing her to Rosa Parks is an insult to Rosa Parks and an insult to all people in this country legally.