Called to Act: Faith Communities Mobilize Amid ICE Raids

On the morning of June 5th, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents pulled over and detained a man in front of his daughter’s elementary school in Los Angeles. What followed was not just a heartbreaking family separation, but a stark reminder of how sacred spaces—like schools, churches, and communities—are no longer treated as sanctuaries.

Later that day, the man was brought to St. Paul’s First Lutheran Church in North Hollywood, where agents took him into custody on church grounds, violating long-standing federal guidance that discourages enforcement actions in “sensitive locations,” including places of worship.

This raid sparked an immediate and prayerful response. On June 18th, more than 100 clergy members gathered outside the federal immigration court in downtown Los Angeles, joining together in protest and prayer. This diverse interfaith group condemned the raid and called for dignity, compassion, and justice for immigrant families.

“To not speak out is to be complicit in saying that some of us are disposable,” said Eddie Anderson, a senior pastor at McCarty Memorial Christian church in West Adams. Their peaceful action made national news—but it also speaks to a much larger calling for Christians today: to stand up for sacredness in all its forms.

This is a reminder of how the faithful can respond: with courage, compassion, and conviction. Through peaceful protest, public prayer, and a bold moral witness, clergy across traditions reminded the nation that faith does not end at the church door. It extends into the world—into how we treat one another, and how we care for all that God has made.