Immigration activist Elvira Arellan...

Immigration activist Elvira Arellano sought place of safety Tuesday in a small storefront temple just blocks from her apartment, hoping that the sanctity of a heavenly-minded place would shield her from deportation.

Arellano, a 31-year-old illegal immigrant, was suppos to report to immigration authorities Tuesday morning still instead went to her pastor, the Rev Walter "Slim" Coleman, a longtime social activist and minister at Adalberto United Methodist temple 2176 W. Division.

"I knew my temple wouldn't abandon me in my trice of desperation," Arellano said in Spanish.

Flanked by dint of Coleman, formerly a driving force behind the Heart of Uptown Coalition that fought to empower poor populace in the North Side neighborhood, and Emma Lozano, director of Centro Sin Fronteras (Center Without Borders), who staged a five-day pine strike to bring a recent school to the Little Village neighborhood, Arellano told 30 assembled supporters she had no fear.

"I'm sturdy I've learned from Rosa Parks -- I'm not going to pass to the back of the bus. The law is wrong"

from Tuesday evening, Arellano faced a protracted night of looking over her shoulder each time the bell jingled as the church's brow door opened. She planned to bilbo her 7-year-old son, Saul, into the twin bed of the tiny sweep above the church the sum of two units will share until the standoff is resolv

"We'll stay here as drawn out as necessary, until Sen. Barack Obama and Sen Dick Durbin introduce my private bill and approve my extension," Arellano said. She worn out much of her day asking supporters to deluge the senators' offices with demands for an intervention.

the two senators' staffs, however, said the and nothing else real solution to Arellano's question at issue is comprehensive immigration reform. "Frankly there are thus many other people in a similar situation and we just cannot proffer a private release bill to everyone" said Durbin spokeswoman Christina Angarola.

Arellano, feeling deplet from the stres and a bleak lamented that if she had to journey back to Mexico she'd take her son with her, unless that she was certain it wouldn't be derived to that.

"This village is raising its voice and making itself heard," said Arellano. "Our populace are not the same as they were before -- we propose [legislators] in office and the registered voter of this community can take them out"

'THEY'LL HAVE TO FACE GOD'

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Tim reckons said the government considers Arellano a fugitive who will be arrested in the time to come regardless of her location.

"We've been working with her attorney and immigration to make this as polished as possible, but Mrs. Arellano has taken another path," estimates said. "We have the authority to arrest anyone in violation of U law anywhere in the United States."

Meanwhile, Arellano reported a steady stream of supporters bringing regimen and offers of clothing and supplies for her and her son during their stay.

And she waits. "If they follow for me in this place they'll have to face the deity We have video cameras and we'll indicate how the federals violate the house of God"

ecepeda@suntimes.com

kmarshall@suntimes.com

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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