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CNA Staff, Jun 9, 2025 / 17:38 pm (CNA).

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, the nation’s largest Catholic community, issued a statement calling for “restraint and calm” as tensions in Los Angeles escalated over the weekend after protests sparked by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests of unauthorized immigrants turned violent.

“I am troubled by today’s immigration enforcement raids in Los Angeles, and I am praying for our community,” Gomez said in a statement issued June 6.

“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, hardworking immigrants and their families.”

In his statement, Gomez called on Congress to fix the country’s “broken” immigration system.

The unrest, which began on June 6 in response to ICE raids at multiple work sites, escalated after the arrest of David Huerta, president of the California chapter of the Service Employees International Union, who allegedly blocked the path of ICE vehicles. 

Videos showed crowds surrounding vans, chanting, and growing in number as the protests extended into the night. Demonstrations intensified on Saturday, with protesters gathering outside the detention facility where Huerta was being held after his release from the hospital, where he was treated for injuries sustained during his demonstration and subsequent arrest.

On Sunday, the situation worsened as California Highway Patrol used flash-bang grenades to clear Highway 101 after protesters blocked the roadway, throwing debris, including tree branches and fireworks, at police vehicles below.

Sunday night saw further chaos, with protesters setting multiple Waymo driverless taxis on fire, throwing rocks at officers, and defacing neighborhoods with anti-ICE graffiti. 

A candlelight interfaith prayer vigil scheduled for Sunday evening at Los Angeles City Hall, organized by the archdiocese’s Immigration Task Force and groups like the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, the Central American Resource Center, and LA Voice, was postponed out of caution due to the escalating violence. 

The groups issued a statement reaffirming their call for nonviolence and pledged to reschedule the vigil when conditions stabilize.

President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard on Saturday night, citing local leaders’ failure to control the situation. Gov. Gavin Newsom fiercely opposed the move, calling it a breach of state sovereignty. On Monday, California filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging its decision to federalize the California National Guard.

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The Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Mexico City, Monsignor Francisco Javier Acero, issues an appeal to political authorities and all sectors of society to engage in dialogue and cooperate in locating the thousands of people who have gone missing in recent decades amid rising criminal violence.

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Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for officials of the Roman Curia on the Jubilee of the Holy See, and recalls that the Apostolic See draws its fruitfulness from Jesus Christ and the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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The Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, speaks to Vatican News following his first audience with Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican, reflecting on "the very consoling encounter, full of prayer," and reflects on the dramatic situation in the war-torn country.

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In the wake of Pope Leo XIV’s election on May 8, 2025, Vatican Media explores the missionary journey of Robert Francis Prevost in Peru with a new documentary, which airs soon on Vatican Media’s channels.

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The 8th of June marks a month since Pope Leo XIV was elected. Reflecting on the gift of the Holy Father to the Church in this time of history, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos shares his thoughts and wishes for Pope Leo XIV.

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Pope Leo XIV leads the Regina Caeli prayer on the Solemnity of Pentecost, and prays that the Holy Spirit may foster reconciliation where war tears people apart.

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