By The Department of Homeland Security insisted ICE officers are “heroes,” enforcing the law.
Bishop Joseph Brennan of the Diocese of Fresno, California, warned that immigration raids in California’s Central Valley are instilling “unrest, anxiety and even fear” in the community and that many of his priests are reporting that their parishes have been affected.
“Even if you have not been personally affected by the increased immigration enforcement in our region, many of those who sit alongside you in the pews have been affected, with some already having been detained,” wrote Brennan, whose diocese covers a large portion of the southern Central Valley.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have not announced any specific operations targeting California or its Central Valley. However, local media have reported a surge in enforcement in recent weeks.
In his pastoral letter, Brennan said pastors reported to him that “members of their congregations have been taken away abruptly and with little or no information coming from federal agents.” He said he has been in contact with priests and interfaith and advocacy partners about ways to “help, comfort and accompany our people” amid the reported surge.”
“It breaks my heart,” the bishop wrote. “… Many of those caught up in this recent immigration enforcement in our Valley are not strangers to us — they are family, neighbors, and parishioners who are being uprooted from the lives they have built over many years among us.”
‘Indiscriminate’ raids
Brennan noted that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted 216-5 to approve a special message that the bishops oppose “the indiscriminate mass deportation of people” during the 2025 Fall Plenary Assembly. He then expressed concern that Central Valley raids appear to be indiscriminate.
“These people are valued and beloved, they are part of the fabric of our community,” he said. “It is frightening to them and disturbing to us that these current operations seem to have taken on an indiscriminate nature with little regard for the dignity of the human person.”
“Our Church teaches that every human person possesses an inherent dignity,” the bishop continued. “This dignity is not granted by governments, economic status, citizenship, or legal documentation. It is given by God.”
A spokesperson for DHS did not confirm any specific operation targeting California.
“For operational security and the safety of our officers, ICE will not disclose or discuss law enforcement operations,” the spokesperson said. “Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country including in California.”
The spokesperson defended ongoing immigration enforcement: “To most Americans our ICE officers are heroes as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists.”
The spokesperson provided a list of five people they labeled as “public safety threats” arrested in California, which included people convicted of vehicular manslaughter, aggravated assault with a gun, burglary, homicide, and selling drugs.
Church ‘will not be silent’
In his pastoral letter, Brennan said the Church “will not be silent” and “will accompany our vulnerable neighbors in concrete, sustained ways.”
“We will strive to be a loving presence in our society for our brothers and sisters,” Brennan said.
“Our parishes will be present to them for healing and comfort,” he said. “Accompaniment might take the shape of walking with families through long and complicated legal proceedings, showing up at immigration court, organizing transportation and childcare, and refusing to let anyone face this situation alone. We will speak up for them and will encourage one another to see this work of justice as a part of our baptismal call.”
Accompaniment might take the shape of walking with families through long and complicated legal proceedings, showing up at immigration court, organizing transportation and childcare, and refusing to let anyone face this situation alone. We will speak up for them and will encourage one another to see this work of justice as a part of our baptismal call.”
Bishop Joseph BrennanDiocese of Fresno, California
The bishop called for “real change and real reform,” saying “our country and our elected officials must do better,” calling for “tangible results that reflect meaningful and just immigration reform.”
“Until such reform is achieved, the dignity of our immigrant brothers and sisters must remain in the forefront of whatever shape our efforts might take,” he wrote. “In the midst of those efforts, to be sure, we are navigating in a chaotic and emotionally charged time. I encourage the faithful to pray for one another and to act out of a spirit of communion in all things, bridging divisions and treating one another peacefully and with compassion.”
“We are in this together,” Brennan wrote. “God bless you and those you love, always and in every way.”
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The CC bishops show no concern for the harm caused by illegal aliens (“strangers,” “migrants,” etc. in their weasel vocabulary) to the men, women and children of the U.S. and the West.
ALL illegals not only violate the law but DEMONSTRATE THEIR LACK OF REGARD FOR THEIR NEIGHBOR’S RIGHTS THE VERY MOMENT THEY SNEAK IN.
ALL illegal aliens raise housing costs and lower housing availability, lower wages for Americans, tax our health systems, over crowd schools, with 50% OF ILLEGAL ALIEN FAMILIES ON WELFARE, far higher than the average for non illegals (see below the information), not to mention the STEALING OF BILLIOS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AS IN MINNESOTA AND CALIFORNIA (see information below), or “non-violelnt crimes” such as DWI, fraud, theft, identity theft, drug trafficking, child pornography possession, human trafficking, child molestation.
Not to mention the crimes, including crimes against children.
Demcorat Administration-Released Illegal Alien [“stranger,” “migrant” etc.] Accused of Raping 15-Year-Old Girl in Nashville
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/05/biden-released-illegal-alien-accused-raping-15-year-old-girl-nashville/
Democrat Administration-Released Afghan Migrant Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Filming Himself Raping Children
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/08/biden-released-afghan-migrant-sentenced-to-35-years-in-prison-for-filming-himself-raping-children/
ANGEL MOM: MY NEWLYWED SON AND HIS WIFE WOULD BE ALIVE IF NOT FOR THE DEMOCRAT ADMINISTRATION CATCH-AND-RELEASE [OF “MIGRANTS”] POLICY
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/16/watch-angel-mom-my-newlywed-son-his-wife-would-be-if-alive-if-not-for-biden/
ICE Arrests Illegal Alien Sex Offenders, Burglars, Drug Traffickers
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/06/exclusive-ice-arrests-illegal-alien-sex-offenders-burglars-drug-traffickers/
Democrat Administration’s DHS Knowingly Allowed Millions of Visa Overstay Illegal Aliens [strangers, migrants, etc.] to Remain in U.S., ‘Including Those Deemed High Risk to National Security’
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/05/dhs-inspector-general-joe-bidens-dhs-knowingly-allowed-millions-visa-overstay-illegal-aliens-remain-in-u-s-including-those-deemed-high-risk-national-security/
Two Democrat Administration Illegal Aliens Sought for Stabbing, Robbery of NYPD Detective
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/10/06/illegal-aliens-sought-nypd-detective-stabbing/
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin: ICE Raids Help Stabilize Rents, Home Prices
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/06/exclusive-dhs-secretary-markwayne-mullin-ice-raids-help-stabilize-rents-home-prices/
ICE Arrests Illegal Alien Elections Canvasser (for Democrat Congressional Candidate) Accused of Exposing Himself
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/07/ice-arrests-illegal-alien-democrat-canvasser-accused-exposing-himself/
ICE Arrests Transgender “Woman” Illegal Alien Biological Male Accused of Sexually Assaulting a Boy in Florida
https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/10/14/trans-illegal-alien-arrested-for-sexual-assault-of-underage-boy-n2684663
63.4% Of Welfare Recipients In Germany Are Aliens, Will Cost Taxpayers Approximately €21.2 Billion In 2026
https://www.glut-magazin.de/artikel/buergergeld-auslaender-2026
Haitian Illegal Arrested After 9-Year-Old Indiana Boy Killed, Brother Seriously Injured in Hit-and-Run Horror
“On Oct. 9, ICE officials confirmed that Bazil is a Haitian who was in the United States illegally since 2024.”
https://fox59.com/news/2-juveniles-injured-in-hit-and-run-crash-on-northwest-side-of-indianapolis/
Hundreds of children in Germany – with girls as young as 11 married to Iraqis, Syrians and Pakistanis [“strangers,” “migrants,” etc. as CC bishops compassionately call them] in Germany
“Hundreds of child marriages have been revealed in Germany, as new data indicates that girls as young as 11 are being married off to adult men.
Data revealed that since April 2012, officials in the German state of Baden-Württemberg recorded 358 marriages involving a child….The state government said that despite the hundreds of instances of child marriage, there are not currently any legal proceedings to annul any of them.
THE DATA WAS REVEALED AFTER LOCAL POLITICIANS FROM THE HARD-RIGHT ALTERNATIVE FOR GERMANY (AFD) PARTY FILED A PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT.”
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16202699/Germany-child-marriages-Iraq-Syria-Pakistan.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=social-twitter_mailonline
If Democrats Win in November: The First 100 Hours: A House Blueprint to Federalize Abortion
https://nrlc.org/nrlnewstoday/2026/09/the-first-100-hours-a-house-blueprint-to-federalize-abortion-2/
Germany: Foreigners vastly overrepresented in violent crimes in 2025 criminal data, 72% increase in rape since 2018
https://rmx.news/article/germany-foreigners-vastly-overrepresented-in-violent-crimes-in-2025-criminal-data-72-increase-in-rape-since-2018/
Salvadoran Illegal Charged in Double Shooting Near Mall in Virginia Sanctuary County
https://sheriff.loudoun.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/10928
Teen Girl Kidnapped, Sodomized by Illegal Aliens in Missouri
https://hoodline.com/2026/10/teen-dragged-off-cadet-road-raped-two-men-charged-face-ice-holds/
25-year-old victim raped next to Karl Marx statue in Germany; Police seek two Persian-speaking men
https://rmx.news/article/germany-25-year-old-rape-victim-raped-next-to-karl-marx-statue-says-her-attackers-were-speaking-persian/
German police advise women to vomit to stop rape attacks
“Vomiting can also be an effective way to ward off a sexual offense.”
https://rmx.news/article/german-police-advise-women-vomit-to-stop-rape-attacks/
ICE Arrests Suspect in Sex Attack at Florida Foster Care Cottage– Crossed Border as ‘Unaccompanied Minor’ and Was Allowed to Stay in the U.S. as “Refugee”
“Hernandez-Lopez illegally entered the United States in 2020 as an unaccompanied minor and was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol. He was released to the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement,” DHS said
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/man-charged-in-2012-rape-kidnapping-of-florida-teen-following-ice-operation/ar-AA2dUhKr
The CC bishops show no concern for the harm caused by illegal aliens (“strangers,” “migrants,” etc. in their weasel vocabulary) to the men, women and children of the U.S. and the West.
ALL illegals not only violate the law but DEMONSTRATE THEIR LACK OF REGARD FOR THEIR NEIGHBOR’S RIGHTS THE VERY MOMENT THEY SNEAK IN.
ALL illegal aliens raise housing costs and lower housing availability, lower wages for Americans, tax our health systems, over crowd schools, with 50% OF ILLEGAL ALIEN FAMILIES ON WELFARE, far higher than the average for non illegals, not to mention the STEALING OF BILLIOS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AS IN MINNESOTA AND CALIFORNIA (see information below), or “non-violelnt crimes” such as DWI, fraud, theft, identity theft, drug trafficking, child pornography possession, human trafficking, child molestation.
Not to mention the crimes, including crimes against children.
Democrat Administration-Released Illegal Alien [“stranger,” “migrant” etc.] Accused of Raping 15-Year-Old Girl in Nashville
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/05/biden-released-illegal-alien-accused-raping-15-year-old-girl-nashville/
Democrat Administration-Released Afghan Migrant Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Filming Himself Raping Children
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/08/biden-released-afghan-migrant-sentenced-to-35-years-in-prison-for-filming-himself-raping-children/
ANGEL MOM: MY NEWLYWED SON AND HIS WIFE WOULD BE ALIVE IF NOT FOR THE DEMOCRAT ADMINISTRATION CATCH-AND-RELEASE [OF “MIGRANTS”] POLICY
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/16/watch-angel-mom-my-newlywed-son-his-wife-would-be-if-alive-if-not-for-biden/
ICE Arrests Illegal Alien Sex Offenders, Burglars, Drug Traffickers
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/06/exclusive-ice-arrests-illegal-alien-sex-offenders-burglars-drug-traffickers/
An illegal alien accused of raping and murdering 13-year-old last year in the sanctuary state of California has been hit with additional child rape charges against other teen boys.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/02/12/sanctuary-california-illegal-alien-hit-with-more-child-rape-charges-after-allegedly-murdering-boy/
Democrat Administration’s DHS Knowingly Allowed Millions of Visa Overstay Illegal Aliens [strangers, migrants, etc.] to Remain in U.S., ‘Including Those Deemed High Risk to National Security’
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/05/dhs-inspector-general-joe-bidens-dhs-knowingly-allowed-millions-visa-overstay-illegal-aliens-remain-in-u-s-including-those-deemed-high-risk-national-security/
Two Democrat Administration Illegal Aliens Sought for Stabbing, Robbery of NYPD Detective
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/10/06/illegal-aliens-sought-nypd-detective-stabbing/
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin: ICE Raids Help Stabilize Rents, Home Prices
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/06/exclusive-dhs-secretary-markwayne-mullin-ice-raids-help-stabilize-rents-home-prices/
ICE Arrests Illegal Alien Elections Canvasser (for Democrat Congressional Candidate) Accused of Exposing Himself
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/07/ice-arrests-illegal-alien-democrat-canvasser-accused-exposing-himself/
ICE Arrests Transgender “Woman” Illegal Alien Biological Male Accused of Sexually Assaulting a Boy in Florida
https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/10/14/trans-illegal-alien-arrested-for-sexual-assault-of-underage-boy-n2684663
63.4% Of Welfare Recipients In Germany Are Aliens, Will Cost Taxpayers Approximately €21.2 Billion In 2026
https://www.glut-magazin.de/artikel/buergergeld-auslaender-2026
Haitian Illegal Arrested After 9-Year-Old Indiana Boy Killed, Brother Seriously Injured in Hit-and-Run Horror
“On Oct. 9, ICE officials confirmed that Bazil is a Haitian who was in the United States illegally since 2024.”
https://fox59.com/news/2-juveniles-injured-in-hit-and-run-crash-on-northwest-side-of-indianapolis/
Hundreds of children in Germany – with girls as young as 11 married to Iraqis, Syrians and Pakistanis [“strangers,” “migrants,” etc. as CC bishops compassionately call them] in Germany
“Hundreds of child marriages have been revealed in Germany, as new data indicates that girls as young as 11 are being married off to adult men.
Data revealed that since April 2012, officials in the German state of Baden-Württemberg recorded 358 marriages involving a child….The state government said that despite the hundreds of instances of child marriage, there are not currently any legal proceedings to annul any of them.
THE DATA WAS REVEALED AFTER LOCAL POLITICIANS FROM THE HARD-RIGHT ALTERNATIVE FOR GERMANY (AFD) PARTY FILED A PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT.”
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16202699/Germany-child-marriages-Iraq-Syria-Pakistan.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=social-twitter_mailonline
If Democrats Win in November: The First 100 Hours: A House Blueprint to Federalize Abortion
https://nrlc.org/nrlnewstoday/2026/09/the-first-100-hours-a-house-blueprint-to-federalize-abortion-2/
Germany: Foreigners vastly overrepresented in violent crimes in 2025 criminal data, 72% increase in rape since 2018
https://rmx.news/article/germany-foreigners-vastly-overrepresented-in-violent-crimes-in-2025-criminal-data-72-increase-in-rape-since-2018/
Salvadoran Illegal Charged in Double Shooting Near Mall in Virginia Sanctuary County
https://sheriff.loudoun.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/10928
Teen Girl Kidnapped, Sodomized by Illegal Aliens in Missouri
https://hoodline.com/2026/10/teen-dragged-off-cadet-road-raped-two-men-charged-face-ice-holds/
25-year-old victim raped next to Karl Marx statue in Germany; Police seek two Persian-speaking men
https://rmx.news/article/germany-25-year-old-rape-victim-raped-next-to-karl-marx-statue-says-her-attackers-were-speaking-persian/
German police advise women to vomit to stop rape attacks
“Vomiting can also be an effective way to ward off a sexual offense.”
https://rmx.news/article/german-police-advise-women-vomit-to-stop-rape-attacks/
ICE Arrests Suspect in Sex Attack at Florida Foster Care Cottage– Crossed Border as ‘Unaccompanied Minor’ and Was Allowed to Stay in the U.S. as “Refugee”
“Hernandez-Lopez illegally entered the United States in 2020 as an unaccompanied minor and was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol. He was released to the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement,” DHS said
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/man-charged-in-2012-rape-kidnapping-of-florida-teen-following-ice-operation/ar-AA2dUhKr
Maybe the bishops could tell us in what way the ICE raids are indiscriminate. Is ICE arresting legal immigrants? I don’t think so. In fact, the bishops have eliminated the word “illegal” from their vocabulary. We only just have migrants.
It would seem that they do not want illegals deported, and I would appreciate if they would just say this.