Violent Riots in Los Angeles, California, Archbishop Gomez says "I pray tonight that everyone involved will exercise restraint and calm."
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In Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. protests broke out on June 6 after several raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which along with Customs and Border Protection is the law enforcement arm of the Department of Homeland Security.
The raids are part of Trump's promised crackdown on illegal immigration occurred in largely Latino areas of Los Angeles, with demonstrations forming at the Federal Building in the city's downtown. Several driverless taxis were set on fire, with dozens arrested and 60 taken into custody at related protests in San Francisco.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the protests, making close to 60 arrests over the June 7-8 weekend.
In a June 7 memorandum, Trump mobilized at least 2,000 National Guard troops to "temporarily protect ICE and other United States Government personnel who are performing Federal functions, including the enforcement of Federal law, and to protect Federal property, at locations where protests against these functions are occurring or are likely to occur based on current threat assessments and planned operations."
The troops are in force "for 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense," who in turn "may employ any other members of the regular Armed Forces as necessary to augment and support the protection of Federal functions and property in any number determined appropriate in his discretion," wrote President Trump. Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles released a statement of concern on June 6, 2025
“I am troubled by today’s immigration enforcement raids in Los Angeles, and I am praying for our community. I pray tonight that everyone involved will exercise restraint and calm.
We all agree that we don’t want undocumented immigrants who are known terrorists or violent criminals in our communities. But there is no need for the government to carry out enforcement actions in a way that provokes fear and anxiety among ordinary, hard-working immigrants and their families.
Again, I urge Congress to get serious about fixing our broken immigration system that leads so many to seek to cross our borders illegally.
Other nations have a coherent immigration policy that respects the natural rights of people to emigrate in search of a better life and also ensures control of their borders. America should too. It’s been almost 40 years since the last reform of our immigration laws. That’s too long and it’s time to do something about that.
May Our Lady of Guadalupe continue to watch over her children and pray for America.”
Sources: https://lacatholics.org/statement-from-archbishop-gomez-on-la-immigration-raids/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/department-of-defense-security-for-the-protection-of-department-of-homeland-security-functions/
Archbishop of Los Angeles released a statement of concern on June 6, 2025
“I am troubled by today’s immigration enforcement raids in Los Angeles, and I am praying for our community. I pray tonight that everyone involved will exercise restraint and calm.
We all agree that we don’t want undocumented immigrants who are known terrorists or violent criminals in our communities. But there is no need for the government to carry out enforcement actions in a way that provokes fear and anxiety among ordinary, hard-working immigrants and their families.
Again, I urge Congress to get serious about fixing our broken immigration system that leads so many to seek to cross our borders illegally.
Other nations have a coherent immigration policy that respects the natural rights of people to emigrate in search of a better life and also ensures control of their borders. America should too. It’s been almost 40 years since the last reform of our immigration laws. That’s too long and it’s time to do something about that.
May Our Lady of Guadalupe continue to watch over her children and pray for America.”
Sources: https://lacatholics.org/statement-from-archbishop-gomez-on-la-immigration-raids/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/department-of-defense-security-for-the-protection-of-department-of-homeland-security-functions/
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