A Guatemalan immigrant who entered a New York church more than two weeks ago to seek refuge from immigration authorities says she'll fight to prevent being separated from her children.

Aura Hernandez spoke to the press on Thursday inside the Manhattan church where she's been hiding from federal agents.

The 37-year-old immigrant vows to stay inside Fourth Universalist Society, a historic Upper West Side church, until her immigration status changes.

The mother of two who used to clean homes has lived illegally in the U.S. since 2005. Both her children were born in the U.S.

Hernandez entered the church about two weeks ago but spent the two previous weeks inside another uptown church where she first sought refuge.

A U.S. immigration representative says Hernandez didn't report to authorities as instructed and is now considered a fugitive.