Rosa Robles Loreto says the first thing she is going to do after leaving sanctuary is walk around her house and cook dinner for her husband and two boys.
This morning, Robles Loreto celebrated a huge win: days after her attorney Margo Cowan worked out a confidential agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, Robles Loreto walked out of Tucson’s Southside Presbyterian Church—the place she called home for more than 15 months to avoid deportation.
“I have been crying all of these days. My children, when they heard the news, their faces just changed,” Robles Loreto told the Weekly after a quick prayer and ceremony inside the church’s worship room. “I thought my (youngest) son was going to jump with happiness, but no, he just cried and hugged me.”
Robles Loreto’s oldest son, Gerardo Jr., 12, says he can’t wait for his mom to once again cheer for him from the sidelines at his baseball games. He, and younger brother José Emiliano, 9, spent the summer vacation at the church with mom, leaving her side only for baseball practice. When the Weekly spoke with Gerardo Jr. a few months ago, he said sometimes he would forget his mom wasn’t around. He’d come back home from school screaming for her to talk about his day. Then, he’d remember she wasn’t there.
“I am really happy because I wasn’t expecting it, I am very grateful…I am happy that she is safe,” Gerardo Jr. says. “(I want to) spend time with her and go to my baseball games, and go to the park.”
On Aug. 7, 2014, Robles Loreto walked through the doors of the church with only a small bag—with belongings enough for no more than 10 days—after Immigration and Customs Enforcement told her to turn herself in to be deported. The removal order came to be at the hype of SB 1070—Arizona’s so-called “show me your papers” law. Robles Loreto was apprehended over a minor traffic infraction in 2010.
She and her family never anticipated she’d be in the church for as long as she was. After all, on paper, she was not a priority for removal in ICE’s book, according to a 2014 memo by the agency. She doesn’t have a criminal record and has called the U.S. home for roughly 20 years.
Today, after 11 a.m., Harrington read a prayer in English and Spanish to send off Robles Loreto back to her life. The close to 100 people who showed up to support Robles Loreto sang while she, her husband, Gerardo, and her kids walked through a tunnel of spectators and out to the patio—all surroundings that she’s been so familiar with, except merely a few days ago she couldn’t leave.
“There are no words to express the gratitude in this moment,” Harrington told the Weekly. “She came in a mom and a wonderful community member, she is leaving as a community leader, someone who knows that when she lifts up her voice, she lifts it up for many.”
The community support for Robles Loreto has been overwhelming. Close to 10,000 homes and businesses have placed signs that read, “We Stand with Rosa;” and both the Tucson City Council and the Pima County Board of Supervisors passed resolutions pleading Department of Homeland Security and the Obama administration to help close Robles Loreto’s case.
The fight isn’t over, though. Robles Loreto says she won’t stop speaking up until there is comprehensive immigration reform for the millions of undocumented people living in the U.S.—especially parents. No family deserves to be torn apart, she says.
“This has been a huge spiritual learning experience, even though it has been so hard. It gave me a lesson in how much people can love one another. I came in here with a family of four,” she says. “Today, I know I have an even bigger family. I will keep going, because I thought there were no opportunities for me. Today I have the opportunity to leave,” and she wants others in similar circumstances to have the same chance.
Two other people who sought sanctuary in Tucson—Daniel Neyoy Ruiz was the first case at Southside in May 13, 2014, and Francisco Perez Cordova took sanctuary at St. Francis United Methodist Church on Sept. 25, 2014—left after way shorter stays than Robles Loreto. Neyoy Ruiz moved out of Southside in June 2014, after DHS granted him a one-year stay (which was renewed earlier this year). Perez Cordova went home in December 2014, following a little more than 90 days at St. Francis, after his case was closed. Both of them—now very close friends with Robles Loreto—were at the ceremony today.
This article appears in Nov 5-11, 2015.
don’t upset the left wing ideology of illegal immigration because they don’t care what it costs and the price that is paid for those legal American Citizens who are unemployed and result in the loss of benefits that get provided to illegals. Especially in the corrupt world of Southern AZ and the Sanctuary City of Tucson AZ
Check your blood pressure, troll. Sounds like your Depends are wrapped too tight. I’m glad my bleeding heart makes you sick. Hopefully sick enough to move. You offer nothing.
Dear “Rosa,” ICE wasted millions–on that we agree. They threw it away dithering when they could have just given Rosa the prosecutorial discretion to which she’s entitled in the first place. “Rosa” I suggest you learn the language and culture here if you plan to spend much time in the Southwest. Alternatively, you may want to return to the snowy white region from whence you came.
She had justice through the court system and she is refusing orders from Obama’s ICE to report. She has no respect for our borders or laws.
Throw her ass out.
Well I for one stand with rosa. the mean spirited, non Christian valued, imperialistic lack of compassion people, whom speak badly of you rosa are the selfish ones, not you you rosa are a very strong, kind hearted lady, who just wants the best for your family. Okay, she wasn’t born here, I get that. But do you people forget that the only people that really have a right to say there from here originally, are the native Americans. We stole there land.well our ancestors did it, and that’s just terrible, but then we try to tell we try to tell others who shouldn’t be here, actually the only people that should be able to Say who should be here are the native Americans. Just so you know I am a Caucasian and have learned alot from my Hispanic brothers and sisters. The majority of them are law abiding, hard working, clean people just trying to make a good life for them and there families what’s wrong with that? And don’t forget the same god that created me also created them as well who are we to judge. Let those without sin cast the first stone, well that means none of us can cast one as we all have sin. Quit judging others especially when those of us without this situation don’t know what they are really going thru. Rosa congratulations and I hope you and your family live a productive, safe, happy life.god bless you forever. !
Rosa can go to hell. Talk of all this ridiculous religion to use as your crutch. Complete hypocrisy is all you practice. You think only ICE’s organization is the only place money was spent? You do the math retards. How much do you think a ICE makes an hour? Now add police, the mayor, the Governor, Senators, President and all their staff just 1 hour of their time. Now multiply that by how many days this scum bag Rosa stayed in the church. Yeah that is a huge misdirection of tax dollars. Meanwhile Tucson schools are at what rank of our nation? Our roads at what rank? Economy? The list continues on what those Millions of dollars could have benefit a huge population. Nope we wasted it on one god dam person. If you feel the need to throw Rosa under your wing then you pay out of your own pocket we will see how long your charity lasts. I bet it wouldn’t last the time see stayed in the church under the guise of hypocrisy of religion.
To the idiot of bleeding hearts. Jackass, Arizona was Mexico to begin with, just like everything else. Our country wanted more land. So when you disrespect people, learn the facts first. You probably weren’t born in Arizona or you would of know. Jackass…i think that suits you good.
I think Rosa, and her family (so they won’t get torn apart) should all go back to where they came from! She came here illegally, stayed here illegally (for over 20 years!!!!), she has never tried to become legal nor learned the language of this country and defied IEC when she was told to report for deportation. These are only a few things she’s done wrong. She wants to use our justice system so that she can stay in this country legally, but what has she done to abide by the laws of this country? She and her family should all go!
Bahahaha Jimmy Z trying to throw down knowledge. You calling the people of Mexico indigenous to the Origin of Arizona and Mexico? Uh….Where do you think Mexican’s blood line comes from? It isn’t Native is it? Where again is Spain? The country that took control of Mexico and the language of Mexico. Spanish is it? Where again is Spain? Europe. That’s right White People. The people of Spain are white. Where did Native American’s bloodline come from? Hm… Might have something do to with the land bridge that dissolved. Oh that’s right Asian’s. The DNA don’t lie. Don’t try to act like you know anything of Genetic history of indigenous peoples of the Americas. Americas meaning the whole North and South. Ignorant I think that suits you good.
Wow, a great deal of hate in these comments from non-Native Americans whose ancestors immigrated here themselves. This woman was not a rapist, drug dealing criminal as the Trumpers would claim. And if the complaint is the cost of this case to the taxpayers, maybe she should not have been persued to begin with. Is this family, and the over ten million immigrant family members like them, really the type we want to round up and deport like Nazi train rides? Is that the type of country you people want to live in? “Mr. Gorbachev — tear down this wall” — and rebuild it in America???
Now she can be escorted across the boarder.
She will never be a US citizen she will never belong here she is a criminal and this does not mean she has to stop looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life. Things do change and as for this church and the church in the foot hills they will be held accountable for their traitorous acts that support criminals.
At least a $100,000 has been stolen from property taxpayers to educate her children. At least $100,000 has been taken away from our children’s education for this law breaking family that doesn’t even say thank you, in fact, it’s more of a f*** you.
In reply to “Bleeding hearts of Idiots can suck it”
If I read your rant correctly sir, you blame Tucson’s bad roads and poor schools on Rosa? Just last week Tucson had a number of bond issues addressing the schools and the roads among other needed items and only approximately 30% of eligible voters showed up to exercise their right and privilege to vote. They voted each bond issue down, I guess because they love bad roads ands schools. The conservatives who are so tight and selfish with their pennies that their vision for any positive future for the city or the cities children is non existent. How did you vote? You sir, and your kind are responsible for our roads and schools. This one is not on Rosa. You sir and your hateful vitriol are obsolete in this evolving world.
So according to the news Rosa made a deal with the government not to be deported, so then can bank robbers, rapist, car thefts etc. make the same deal? I guess the law of the land is gone. Guess we should do like the bleeding heart leftist, get a blow horn walk by their house and shout “What do we want, send the illegals home…When do we want it, right now.”
Man do people miss the whole point. Go take your hippy world is one and shove it. Try going to another country illegally and see how they treat you. Hell enter Mexico without permission see how that country is going to treat you. Try entering a church there for sanctuary and see if the Mexican government gives a dam and lets you stay. I bet not. They voted it down cause it addressed taxing more to fix things instead of using the mismanaged money they had to address the discrepancies. It seems like your the one not reading the fine lines Ronko. Yes I do blame Rosa and the many people like her who waste our tax dollars. I also blame people like you. Just like its said above if your soo adamant about sheltering illegal criminals do it with your own money. Your talk it cheap
Did Bog Mann just say “Mr. Gorbachev — tear down this wall” and then say Nazi. I know that is a quote from the 80’s but hell. You can’t talk Russia and Germany in the same sentence cause they definitely have a strong stance on their borders and immigration. Germany’s charity just ran out as well.
Bog Mann, first of all, the open borders crowd want to stop all deportations including criminal aliens.
Can we now take down all those ugly signs all over town????
They need to deport Rosa and her attorney. ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL.
A country without laws, is not a country.
A nation without borders is not a nation.
This land was conquered and settled. This is Arizona. This is the United States. The Native Americans have their own nations, Rosa can easily go there and see how the owners of those land treat her. Odds are, they will treat her like the criminal she is and tell her to leave.
Ask the Native Americans how endless immigration by another race and culture worked out for them? Illegal immigration erodes the people and culture that exist on that land.
Don’t break the law and act like the law does not apply to you due to your heritage, nationality, race or color of your skin. A Mexican is not an American. A Honduran is not an American. A German is not an American.
Pay the fees, complete the paperwork and abide by the laws of your host country. Is that too much to ask? I am sure you can input that into a google translator and figure it out Rosa supporters.
@What, again: The conservative Republican-dominated legislature of Arizona has stolen millions from our education system and given it to for-profit entities in tax breaks. Where’s your fury about that? Those of us who support Rosa and immigration reform eagerly would dedicate what we’ve paid in taxes to the schooling of Gerardo, Jr. and Emiliano. Feel free to dedicate whatever taxes you’ve paid to … the tax breaks for corporations or whatever.
…and the Arizona education system has stolen millions from taxpayers. If you want to pay for their education go ahead. You can use tax credits to get them a private education. That is by far the best.
Think about this. Tax breaks for corporations put people to work and offset ever increasing commercial property tax rates. Those can only be passed along to the consumer.
We have a government that has over spent it’;s income. They must be restrained by the tax payers. Next we cut government jobs and pensions.
The folks who claim undocumented immigrants are a drain on the system and don’t pay taxes are apparently unaware that many such immigrants do, in fact hold jobs (albeit mostly low wage/bluecollar) and pay taxes. In Rosa’s case, prior to taking refuge in a local church she typically rose at 4:30 a.m., helped get her husband ready for work (he had and likely still has a job as landscaper) and their two sons ready for school, and then had to leave for her own job cleaning houses. All that she had to do as well as taking care of her own house. Even low wage earners, including landscapers and housekeepers, have to pay taxes like everyone else. Of course, if immigrants have the effrontery to hold jobs rather than going on welfare, those same immigrants are accused of taking away jobs from Americans. To work or not work? The immigrants are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
So let them go back to Mexico, Cynthia. And come back here LEGALLY!!
Look at Cynthia J Coan’s eloquent criminal defense. Note the language:
“undocumented immigrant”.
“immigrant”
This illegal alien. This CRIMINAL and church, have cost Tucson, Pima County, United States and the Federal Government hundreds of thousands of dollars. No amount of taxes paid into the system over her husband’s or children’s lifetimes will ever pay that back.
Your empty, hollow and insincere argument, that these people, these housekeepers and landscapers, will ever contribute back into the system that they have taken, and will take, is insulting and not based in reality.
Unless they are organ donors, they will never repay their debt to this country.
Stop coddling criminals. America for America.