Business magnates and the Archbishop of Los Angeles establish charity to aid families impacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids

Business magnates and the Archbishop of Los Angeles establish charity to aid families impacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids

In the heart of Los Angeles, a coalition of parishioners, business leaders, and clergy are banding together to offer support to families caught in the crossfire of recent immigration raids. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, led by Archbishop José H. Gomez, has launched the "Family Assistance Program," a fund designed to help those affected by the ongoing deportation campaign. Notable figures like Rick Caruso, a real estate mogul and former LA mayoral candidate, have pledged their support. Caruso has promised a $50,000 up-front donation and a pledge to match every dollar donated on the fund's webpage, up to $50,000. The program aims to support parish food banks, such as the one at Resurrection, which distributes essential supplies to about 100 families daily, six days a week. The parish at Resurrection also sends donations to a local YMCA program that brings food to another 550 families every week. Guadalupe Moreno, a parishioner at St. Patrick's, shares the concern of many in the immigrant community. While she agrees that those with criminal records should be deported, she expresses worry about the discrimination and terrorization by ICE agents in her community. Patricia, a parishioner at St. Patrick's who has lived in the U.S. without legal status for nearly 30 years, finds a sense of peace at the church despite the ongoing fear among parishioners. Msgr. Timothy Dyer, the pastor at St. Patrick's, encourages parishioners not to be afraid. The Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co. has shown its support by donating both money to the fund and stuffed animals for children affected by the raids. Locally owned Vallarta Supermarkets, a chain of Mexican food grocery stores with 55 locations in California, has pledged $10,000 in gift cards to the program. The Parishioners Federal Credit Union has also made a cash donation. The Archdiocese is working closely with LA city officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, to find a practical, peaceful solution to the situation with the federal authorities. The story was originally published by Angelus, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Families who need assistance are encouraged to apply by contacting their local parish. The Family Assistance Program is designed to help people regardless of religious affiliation. The deportation campaign has caused a "climate of fear" that hasn't gone away, and this initiative aims to provide much-needed relief.