Illegal Activist Deported

LOS ANGELES - Illegal immigrant Elvira Arellano has been deported to Mexico after taking refuge in a Chicago church for a year, the church's pastor said. Rev. Walter Coleman, pastor of Adalberto United Methodist Church, said, "Thank God she's left. It's pretty hard to hold worship services with some chick laying around half naked, talking on a cell phone and watching Jerry Springer."

Arellano became an activist and a national symbol for illegal immigrants 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, and "to get the hell away from these boring gringo Bible-thumpers."

"She has been deported. As of this morning she was in Tijuana," said Coleman, who said he spoke to her on the phone. "She was in good spirits and looking forward to our dinner meeting tonight in San Diego." When asked if Arellano would be taking refuge in Coleman's church again, the Reverend said she could "if she coughs up some rent."