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Lawsuit Says Deportation Form of Child Abuse

Elvira Arellano Files A National Class Action Lawsuit On Behalf Of Millions of U.S. Citizen Children

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CHICAGO (CBS) ― Elvira Arellano has filed a national class action lawsuit on behalf of millions of U.S. citizen children.

CBS 2's Rob Johnson has more on why the mother and illegal immigrant says the U.S. deportation policy is a form of intentional child abuse.

For two months now, Elvira Arellano has been holed up inside a Near West side church defying a deportation order which would tear her apart from her seven-year-old son, Saul, an American citizen.

Now a lawsuit has been filed contending that such deportations are essentially child abuse.

"When a child has to wake up every morning and have to worry about whether or not their parents are going to be home or swept away and deported. It's a horrible way to live," said Emma Lozano.

The class action lawsuit is being filed against the government, President Bush, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff on behalf of four million children who are U.S. citizens like Saul, who traveled to Washington hoping to meet with the President last week.

"I will tell him to stop the raids and deportations to all the families and so my mom could stay here,"said Saul Arellano.

Elvira and others signed on to this nationwide suit tonight and they are hoping many more will do so -- asking that these deportations stop immediately so parents and children won't have to live apart.

"I have faith and hope to stay here with Saulito," said Elvira.

Organizers hope to get busloads of children and supporters to head to Washington November 3 for what they hope is a big rally, sending a strong message to President Bush and anti-immigration forces.

(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)