It’s been a year since Elvira Arellano defied a deportation order and sought sanctuary in a church on Chicago’s West Side. The 32-year-old Mexican mother is marking the anniversary this morning with an announcement about her future.

From our Humboldt Park bureau, Chicago Public Radio’s Chip Mitchell reports.

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Elvira Arellano and her 8-year-old son have been living in Adalberto United Methodist Church for 365 days. She’s the leading symbol of hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants with U.S.-born children.

But authorities still consider her a fugitive. And immigration reform efforts have stumbled in Congress.

So Arellano says she’s been reevaluating her sanctuary. She isn’t giving many hints, but says this morning’s statement will show one thing.

ARELLANO: Mi fortaleza para seguir luchando para poder quedarme aquí con mi hijo.

That’s her fortitude to keep struggling to be able to stay here with her son.

Arellano and her supporters have been needling Democratic leaders to revive the push for legalization. They’re hoping today’s announcement will help toward that end.

In Humboldt Park, I’m Chip Mitchell, Chicago Public Radio.