[Moderator’s note: Joaquin’s appeal is important precisely because the biggest mass uprising in recent memory was this year, of Latin@s inside the US, at great risk… it was self-organizing and deeply anti-imperialist. White progressives have exhibited a real tendency to issue-hop, instead of connecting the dots. That’s because most of us have all the strategic intuition of a six-year-old on a checkerboard… and because white folks are more comfortable with the oppressed who are beyond our shores than the oppressed nationalities who are right here next to us. I’ll leave it to the more psychology-inclined to figure that out. Elvira’s case is very, very important; as is the continuing (albeit invisible, it seems) uprising of Hispano-Latinas here in the belly of the beast. -SG]

Spent the weekend in Chicago, at the Immigrant Rights Strategy Convention.
Met a wonderful fighter there, a young Mexican woman by the name of Elvira
Arellano. The immigration Gestapo wants to deport her. She’s a convicted
criminal, used a social security number that wasn’t hers, no less. Her son,
he can stay. He was born here, and is thus a citizen, at least until the
Republicans can figure out how to correct the 14th Amendment.

For several years now, her deportation has been staved off by a “Private
Bill” introduced by a Latino Congressman and Senator Dick Durbin. But this
year Senator Dick forgot. Well, not exactly “forgot.” He decided to send a
message.

You see, Elvira Arellano has become one of the most attractive and effective
spokespeople for the immigrants cause. The “poster child.” That’s what the
gabacho corporate press calls her.

And she’s been demanding a stop to ALL deportations.

If Durbin had once again filed a “private bill” on behalf of Arellano, along
with the one already pending for her in the House (sponsored by Rep. Luis
Gutierrez), then la migra would grant her a stay of deportation.

But Durbin refuses to act.

“It is an unfortunate truth that scores of people are in the same situation
as Elvira and her family,” Durbin said in a statement Tuesday. “We cannot
fix the injustices of this system with private bills. Only comprehensive
immigration reform can permanently remedy this situation.”

“Comprehensive Immigration Reform” meaning, precisely, the “Sensenbrenner
light” legislation the Senate cooked up as a “compromise” and which is just
slavery on the installment plan for immigrant workers.

Durbin is punishing Elvira Arellano with the threat of separating her from
her seven-year-old-son for her opposing and exposing the treachery of the
Democrats in Congress. How white of him.

Illinois has two Senators, just like every other state. Both happen to be
Democrats. By precedent and tradition, one of them must be the sponsor of
her bill, or she will be deported.

Elvira Arellano had been ordered to report for deportation Tuesday morning.
Instead, she claimed sanctuary in a Church. It has no legal force. Such
notions went out with the bourgeois revolution. But it buys time for you to
do something.

Call Senator Durbin’s office. Demand that he support the private bill to
stave of Elvira’s deportation. And remember what a disgrace he is to the
human race for blackmailing a mother like that. THAT is the very distilled
essence of Angloness, of whiteness, of patriarchy, of being American: the
use and abuse of privilege.

And for good measure, call the other Senator, Barak Abama also, and make the
same demand.

Joaquín

This is from the information put out by Elvira’s supporters in Illinois:

* * *

PLAN OF ACTION to help Elvira Arellano

“In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything
done, ask a woman.
– Margaret Thatcher, b. 1925, Unknown , 1970

People: Gente:

We simply cannot remain silent, nor stand by . . . This was a very
courageous step on Elvira’s part and we
cannot let her stand alone.

PLAN OF ACTION to help Elvira Arellano

Call, Fax and Email the Senators of the state of Illinois and ask them to
support the bill that would enable Elvira to stay. Tell then that you want
them to support H.R.1628 : — Private Bill; For the relief of Elvira
Arellano.

Sponsored by: Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. (introduced 4/13/2005)

Call, Fax and Email the Senators of the state of Illinois and ask them to
support the bill that would enable Elvira to stay.

Tell then that you want them to support H.R.1628 : — Private Bill; For the
relief of Elvira Arellano.
Sponsored by: Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. (introduced 4/13/2005)

Barack Obama
Email at: http://obama.senate.gov/contact/
Washington D.C. Office
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2854
(202) 228-4260 fax
(202 228-1404 TDD

Chicago Office
John C. Kluczynski Federal Office Building
230 South Dearborn St.
Suite 3900 (39th floor)
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(312) 886-3506
(312) 886-3514 fax
Toll free: (866) 445-2520
(for IL residents only)

Springfield Office
607 East Adams Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701
(217) 492-5089
(217) 492-5099 fax

Marion Office
701 North Court Street
Marion, Illinois 62959
(618) 997-2402
(618) 997-2850 fax

Moline Office
1911 52nd Avenue
Moline, Illinois 61265
(309)736-1217
(309)736-1233 fax

Dick Durbin:
E-mail: http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm#contact
Washington, DC
332 Dirksen Senate Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2152
(202) 228-0400 - fax

Chicago
230 S Dearborn St. STE 3892
Chicago, IL 60604-1483
(312) 353-4952
(312) 353-0150 - fax

Springfield
525 South 8th St.
Springfield, IL 62703
(217 ) 492-4062
(217) 492-4382 - fax

Marion
701 N. Court St.
Marion, IL 62959
(618) 998-8812
(618) 997-0176 - fax