Church Concerned About Possible Immigration Raid

12/29/2006
Via Fox28.com

Members of a Chicago storefront church say they
fear U.S. authorities are planning to raid their building and arrest an
illegal immigrant who has taken refuge there.

Adalberto United Methodist Church has sheltered Elvira Arellano and her 8-year-old son since August.

That’s when Arellano was supposed to be deported. But instead she
sought sanctuary at the church, claiming she didn’t want to be
separated from her son who is a U.S. citizen.

The Reverend Walter Coleman says neighborhood residents reported seeing
U.S. marshals taking pictures of the church Tuesday night.

In response, church members say they plan to stand guard in doorways, windows and the building’s rooftop in a 24-hour vigil.

A spokesman for the U.S. marshal’s office says the agency would not be involved in the matter.