Illegal Immigrant Activist Abandons Son

I may as well cover this story since I'm in Los Angeles today: the AP headlines it "Immigration Activist Deported to Mexico", but I think my title above is more appropriate.

An illegal immigrant who took refuge in a Chicago church for a year to avoid being separated from her U.S.-born son has been deported to Mexico, the church's pastor said.

Elvira Arellano became an activist and a national symbol for illegal immigrant parents as she defied her deportation order and spoke out from her religious sanctuary. She held a news conference last week to announce that she would finally leave the church to try to lobby U.S. lawmakers for change.

She had just spoken at rally Los Angeles rally when she was arrested Sunday outside Our Lady Queen of Angels church and deported, said the Rev. Walter Coleman, pastor of Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago, where Arellano had been living.

The churches involved should be ashamed of themselves, being more concerned with their personal concept of "social justice" than with the commands of the Bible.

Romans 13:1-7

1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

The doctrine of submitting to earthly authority does open some legitimate doors for discussion (e.g., was the American Revolutionary War justified?) but no Christian can reasonably deny that a nation has the right to control what foreigners it allows over its borders. These churches and their pastors either don't care about the Bible, or are incredibly ignorant. Ministering to all comers is one thing, but actively working to undermine law and order is another.

As for "activist" Elvira Arellano herself, she's nearly as despicable.

"She has been deported. She is free and in Tijuana," said Coleman, who said he spoke to her on the phone. "She is in good spirits. She is ready to continue the struggle against the separation of families from the other side of the border."

Her 8-year-old son, Saul, is now living with Coleman's family. During a news conference in Los Angeles after Arellano's arrest, the boy hid behind the pastor's wife and wiped away tears.

I find it hard to credit Arellano's "struggle against the separation of families" considering how quickly she abandoned her son instead of taking him back to Mexico with her. Using a child to score political points in this manner is depraved and tragic, and the parties involved have no honor and are certainly not being guided by Christian love.