20 March 2014

Elvira Arellano Returns to U.S. Soil



Border and immigration activist Elvira Arellano, who first made headlines in 2006 for living with her son Saul in a Chicago church to avoid deportation for a year, stands outside the federal building in San Diego Thursday after being released from detention. Arellano was among at least a hundred other activists without U.S. documentation who applied for humanitarian visas this week as part of a coordinated protest for immigration reform.  She hopes to return to Chicago with her two sons.

10 March 2014

Bring Them Home event for immigration reform at the Otay border crossing

A rally at the US-Mexico's Otay border crossing Monday morning aimed to reunite families pulled apart by deportations.

Border Patrol, with protesters behind them on US soil.


Immigration activist Elvira Arellano

Young DREAMers and their families joined and crossed into Mexico, where they were met by other groups (along with some of Los Otros DREAMers) before trying to cross back into the United States. About 30 applied for asylum in the co-ordinated effort and were being processed by border officials by the end of the event.

The National Immigrant Youth Alliance organized the third and largest #BringThemHome event, pushing for comprehensive immigration reform. About 150 people on both sides of the border waved signs and chanted, "Bring them home!" and "No estan solos!" (They are not alone!).


There will be more events throughout the week.