Opinion: Sanctuary! Sanctuary!

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The Times reports today that the mayor of Ecapetec, a suburb of Mexico City, has declared his town a sanctuary for Central American illegal immigrants, many of whom pass through on their way to the U.S. Mayor Jose Luis Gutierrez has asked law enforcement not to harass or question migrants — a provision that several U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, have instituted as well.

But those provisions aren’t enough for immigrants in those cities. In Chicago, which has sanctuary rules, Flor Crisostomos is claiming ‘sanctuary’ in the same church where now-deported Elvira Arellano stayed. Of course, she isn’t just looking for safety (though she is facing deportation). Like Arellano, she wants to draw attention to the illegal immigration issue.

Is it a good strategy? Some bloggers have taken it up already. Post your thoughts below.