How Arundale, who earlier this year wore a “’Merica” T-shirt and drank mimosas at Trump Tower in Chicago to celebrate President Donald Trump’s inauguration, came to be helping a young family avoid getting swept up in his immigration crackdown illustrates the surprising ways Trump’s supporters can disagree with a man who is often said to have total control over his base.
“Conservatives have this issue wrong,” Arundale said. “I have conservative values — strong military, less government. I’m mad because I don’t think there’s compassion. These are the people that did everything for a taste of freedom. They had children die on their way here. They’re mostly Catholic, they are so into their families. They love America more than most Americans.”
Arundale met Gabriella’s family two years ago at a shelter after they were bused here by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who wanted “sanctuary cities” to take responsibility for immigrants crossing the border. (The Washington Post agreed not to use the family’s full names because they fear arrest.) Since then, Arundale has dedicated much of her life to helping migrants, many of whom are among the
50,000 Venezuelan refugees who have arrived in Chicago in recent years. She turned her garage into a free thrift store, raised tens of thousands of dollars on social media, put up families at her home and took provisional guardianship of about a dozen kids.
When the intensity of the deportation raids ramped up recently, she put together a food delivery network for more than 80 families. While the Trump administration stresses the importance of deporting as many undocumented immigrants as possible, Arundale doesn’t inquire about people’s immigration status.
With Gabriella, she examined a map showing where immigration checkpoints had been reported on the interstate in Indiana. Gabriella planned to drive through the night to avoid them.
"I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions... & remove anyone who is not a net asset to the U.S., or is incapable of loving our Country..." -
coloradosun.com
