California Bishop Excuses Migrants From Attending Mass, Citing Fear of ICE Raids
Undocumented migrant arrested in the United States, 2025. X/ @confidencial_ni
July 9, 2025 Hour: 2:12 pm
Los Angeles remains one of the main targets of immigration raids since June 6.
On Wednesday, Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino, California, excused Catholic migrants from their obligation to attend Mass and denounced the fear surrounding raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
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The bishop issued a decree acknowledging the concern and fear among many faithful in the region, east of Los Angeles, who are hesitant to attend Mass due to fear of possible activity against immigrants by civil authorities.
The decree comes as Los Angeles remains one of the main targets of immigration raids since June 6, when a federal operation began, sparking protests over the presence of ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents.
Rojas warned that the ICE operation “may dissuade some” from fulfilling their Sunday Mass obligation, adding that “such apprehension constitutes a serious obstacle that could harm the spiritual well-being” of parishioners.
“All the faithful of the Diocese of San Bernardino who, due to a real fear of immigration enforcement activity, are unable to attend Holy Mass on Sundays or holy days of obligation, are dispensed from this obligation, as provided by Canon 1247, until this decree is revoked or amended,” Rojas stated.
In light of the situation, the Catholic leader recommended “fostering alternative spiritual practices,” such as watching Mass on television or online. He also stated that “pastors, parochial vicars and other pastoral ministers should offer compassionate support to those affected by this fear.”
Between June 6 and June 22, more than 1,600 people in Los Angeles were detained for deportation purposes, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Migrant fears were reignited Monday when dozens of federal agents surrounded MacArthur Park in downtown Los Angeles in a deployment that included helicopters and armored vehicles — an operation that local authorities described as a “military-style” action and a “staged event” meant to generate fear and chaos.
Catholic leaders like Rojas have criticized President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Trump ordered the expansion of raids to include churches, schools and hospitals — locations that had previously been considered off-limits.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE