In Mexico, a 7-year-old Mexican American appeared before parliament Tuesday as part of a public campaign to prevent his mother’s deportation from the United States. The boy, Saul Arellano, is the son of Elvira Arellano. She’s taken refuge inside a Chicago church since August in an attempt to defy a government deportation order. Saul Arellano spoke after his appearance before the Mexican parliament.

Saul Arellano: “I want President Bush to stop capturing and detaining people so that my mother and other people stay together in the United States.”

Mexican officials said they will try to prevent Elvira Arellano’s deportation. Saul Arellano was also accompanied by Ema Lozano of the Center Without Borders.

Ema Lozano: “There are hundreds of thousands of new voters registered to vote, and they changed the Congress and the Senate in the last election. So we are extremely hopeful, not only for Elvira Arellano, but for the 12 million undocumented immigrants that live and work and pay taxes in the United States, that they will be able to live with dignity.”