Church Closes Off Its Doors To Activist's Debate

Ted Hayes (pictured) was barred from entering Sunday services at a Chicago church where Elvira Arellano, an illegal Mexican immigrant, has taken refuge from authorities for almost two weeks.

Emblematic of the acrimony of the national debate over undocumented immigrants, half a dozen men stood abreast at the entrance of Adalberto United Methodist Church blocking Ted Hayes' entry as others banged drums to drown out his shouts.

The homeless advocate and conservative Republican flew from Los Angeles to protest Arellano's defiance of a government deportation order.With his arguments wending through discussions of slavery, the 14th Amendment and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mr. Hayes - who is affiliated with the Minutemen - said he came to protest because "what this woman, these people are doing is killing my people. They're taking our heritage.

They're taking my civil rights. They're taking my icons, like Rosa Parks and Dr. King. These people were citizens. This lady's no citizen. She's a criminal." Arellano has been criticized locally for comparing her actions to that of the late Mrs. Parks. Mr. Hayes said Arellano should go back to Mexico and protest for reform of the corrupt government there.