Faith Leaders Send ICE Scattering at Immigration Hearings

Bishop-Designate Michael Pham and a delegation of faith leaders say their appearance at immigration hearings sent ICE scattering.

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Masked ICE agents scattered in a San Diego federal building on June 20th, when they saw a group of religious leaders including Bishop-designate Michael Pham of San Diego.

“The group, including eight clergy members and a local imam, was there to show support and pray with immigrants and refugees facing deportation hearings on World Refugee Day,” NCR Online reported.

But unlike many other recent hearings, no asylum-seekers were detained outside the courtroom of Judge Catherine Halliday-Roberts.

"Like the story of Moses and Exodus, the Red Sea parted," said Scott Reid of the immigrant-aiding San Diego Organizing Project.

Bishop-Designate Michael Pham is the very first U.S. Catholic Bishop to be appointed by Pope Leo XIV, and he just so happens to be a refugee himself.

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Pham, appointed as head of the Diocese of San Diego, led a delegation of faith leaders on Friday to immigration court hearings in San Diego, where their presence seemed to stave off arrests, sending masked ICE agents scattering.