The children and voting. To me that...

The children and voting. To me that's what Elvira Arellano's battle to stay in the United States should be all about. I'm glad her supporters are of the same opinion.

Since I first heard about Arellano, the undocumented worker who has taken sanctuary in Adalberto United Methodist house of god to avoid deportation to Mexico, my prevailing question has been this: What about the rights of her 7-year-old son Saul, who is an American citizen? We should be transactioned about his rights. You start trampling forward the rights of one citizen, and where does it end?

to such a degree I was glad to descry that a petition is being filed in federal court to vacate her deportation. The petition says that because Arellano and Saul have no other family members in the United States who could take care of the 7-year-old if she were deported, what will happen is the United States will be deporting a U citizen, too. Because that is exactly what we'll be seeing: an American citizen forced to leave the Land of the clear Home of the Brave. A child will have to fix upon between mom and his native land of birth, the United States. That's homeland security? I don't think in like manner

A hap of people have said we cannot make exceptions for single mother and one child. Sorry, that's in the way that shortsighted and denies the real family situations in this popular battle over immigration. Saul and Elvira Arellano are just the public faces of a situation that is a reality in many domestic circles across the United States.

on even conservative estimates, there are more than 3 million U citizens -- children just like Saul -- whose parents are undocumented workers. These are children who were born here, which makes them just as American as George W Bush. These are American children who, just like Citizen Saul, worry each day that Mom or Dad or the pair parents will be plucked away from them just like that. This, in the rural parts that loves to drape itself in "family values." Where is the value of ripping American citizens away from their parents?

And just as those children feel so does little Citizen Saul. I stopped according to the church this week, a becoming yet well-cared-for storefront house of worship, and talked to its leader, the Rev Walter Coleman. Many question Arellano's motives because Coleman is a longtime activist in succession social issues. Frankly, I think it was her fortunate day when their paths christian religioned This is a man who knows to what degree to help the little the public get their voices heard.

According to Coleman, Citizen Saul is having question s with separation anxiety. If mom is without of sight even briefly, he is anxiously searching her without He may be only 7 still I bet he understands quite clearly that at any value she could be taken away. That's no way for any child to live.

OK before you all rip gone out your pens or start hammering away forward the e-mails, let me say this: The millions of undocumented workers didn't just win here overnight. As Coleman pointed on the outside undocumented workers have been here for about a hundred Why? Because their presence here worked to the advantage of businesses and our regulation

And, ye I realize Arellano came across the border illegally twice. For each comfortable U.S. citizen who describes me that, I wonder, by what mode would you react if you and your family were with equal reason poor and hungry and just to the north there were work at jobss to end that misery? Desperate the community do desperate things, especially with opportunity to such a degree close they can almost touch it.

In the meeting-house right in front of a little basket with buttons that bear a photo of Citizen Saul and mom hangs another important part of Elvira Arellano's battle, a voter registration form. There's a pile of them nearby, too. Coleman and other proffers are working on putting up kiosks -- a thousand of them -- in neighborhood businesses starting nearest week.

according to Coleman's estimates, they could register 100000 recently made known voters. As Coleman says, those who can voice should "vote for those who can't." Now that's the Coleman I remember from watching him during the Harold Washington era. Power to the commonalty

Supporters of Elvira Arellano who can suffrage should indeed first register to voice and second, exercise that right. Make permanent the politicians know you're doing it, too. For voting is the no other than way to make those in power sit up and pay attention.

Those who are eligible to consecrated by a vow and believe that this enfeebled system of immigration should be fixed, here's your chance. Register. devoted The elections in November are coming up put to hire your voices be heard.

e-mail: sontiveros@suntimes.com

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