Pope Leo Official Issues Bizarre Anti-Trump Move
Pope Leo-Appointed Bishop Travels to California to Appeal ICE’s Deportation of Illegal Immigrants
A bishop appointed by Pope Leo made a visit to a California federal court on June 20 to appeal against the deportation of migrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Michael Pham, the newly appointed Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of San Diego, had earlier urged fellow clergy to accompany migrants during their court hearings on International Refugee Day.
Pham was among a group of 16 religious leaders who gathered at the Southern California Federal Courthouse to show support for migrants facing deportation proceedings.
In a statement ahead of the event, Bishop Pham acknowledged the difficult situation migrants face when summoned before immigration judges.
He said migrants and refugees are often caught in a tough position, being required to appear in court yet frequently receiving expedited removal orders afterward.
Pham also noted that the presence of faith leaders can influence how migrants are treated during hearings, though it rarely changes the final outcomes, the Daily Mail reported.
The bishop’s appointment came from Pope Leo, who elevated him to the position in June. A photo shows Pham alongside then Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost before Prevost became Pope Leo.
Representatives from the Diocese of San Diego told DailyMail.com that the religious delegation attending the court sessions did not intend to confront authorities and had informed judges beforehand of their presence.
The effect of the religious leaders’ presence on deportation cases remains unclear.
Courts nationwide have witnessed emotional scenes as migrants suddenly face deportation after shifting from legal to illegal status under new policies.
In cases where parents are deported, their American-born children may either accompany them abroad or remain in the U.S. with relatives, creating challenging family separations.
Migrants who have arrived in the U.S. within the last two years are particularly vulnerable to being caught in this legal limbo.
ICE holds jurisdiction over these new cases for two years, during which federal prosecutors may request dismissal of immigration cases in court.
However, dismissal does not mean migrants’ claims progress; rather, it transfers the case out of the court’s hands and places migrants at risk of immediate ICE arrest.
Religious leaders and churches across the country have publicly opposed the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation policies.
For example, in Los Angeles, priests joined anti-ICE protesters during riots sparked by immigration raids earlier this month.
The United Methodist Church issued a strong condemnation of President Trump shortly after his re-election, denouncing policies and rhetoric that discriminate against vulnerable groups.
Before becoming pope, Pope Leo was openly critical of MAGA-era immigration enforcement, including publicly disputing Vice President JD Vance’s faith-related comments.
Bishop appointed by Pope Leo descends on California court to persuade ICE not to deport migrants https://t.co/VYpAdKIN7z
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) June 20, 2025
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