(SAN DIEGO) — Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church will open the Pope Francis Center on January 5, 2026, launching a new accompaniment ministry aimed at helping immigrants and families affected by the second Trump administration’s mass deportation initiatives.
The center, based in Logan Heights at 745 Beardsley Ave, San Diego, CA 92113, is designed to provide pastoral care, help people connect with services, and offer legal consultations and referrals as enforcement actions rise across the region.
Why the center is opening
Father Scott Santarosa, pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe, described what he called a growing strain on immigrant families in the area. He recounted a parishioner saying:
“She said to me, ‘Padre, están cazándonos como si fuéramos animales’ (Father, they are hunting us as if we were animals).”
Local church leaders say the combination of stepped-up enforcement and shifting federal procedures has increased the need for trusted guides who can accompany people to appointments and hearings and help families understand what services exist and how to reach them.
Context: enforcement and policy signals
Plans for the Pope Francis Center come as federal officials have publicly signaled intensified enforcement heading into 2026, with San Diego a frequent setting for policy messaging and operations tied to the southern border.
- At a December 30, 2025 news conference at the San Diego border, White House border czar Tom Homan said:
“The Trump administration has sent a clear message: we’re going to enforce immigration law without apology. [the administration] intends to continue the escalation of arrests of undocumented people in 2026.”
- Justin De La Torre, Chief Patrol Agent for the San Diego Sector, reported on December 22, 2025 that the sector had seen a 93% decrease in illegal border crossings. He attributed the change to a shift toward “expedited removals” and a “whole-of-government approach” that ended the practice of releasing individuals into the U.S.
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In December 2025, USCIS announced a pause in processing asylum and benefit applications for immigrants from “high-risk” countries. DHS framed the pause as a vetting measure:
“The safety of the American people always comes first. This pause will allow for a full review of all pending requests.”
The announcement was carried by CBS 8 San Diego on Dec 11, 2025.
Federal immigration agencies have also described procedural and operational shifts affecting migrants and applicants, including changes in border processing and the pace of removals.
Enforcement and policy shifts are ongoing; asylum processing pauses and expedited removals may affect timelines. Verify current rules with the center or official USCIS/DHS updates before appointments.
Local impact and statistics
Organizers cite sharp increases in local enforcement actions:
- In San Diego and Imperial counties, impacted individuals have faced nearly 5,000 arrests between January and October 2025.
- That figure represents a tenfold increase compared to the previous year, according to community announcements tied to the center’s opening.
These trends, along with the late-2025 federal updates, have drawn close attention in San Diego communities with deep cross-border ties.
Services the Pope Francis Center will provide
The center’s core offerings are described as a mix of pastoral presence, practical help, and legal support. Core services include:
- FAITH Accompaniment
– Pastoral care and physical presence for migrants during:
– court hearings
– ICE check-ins
– USCIS appointments
– Emphasis on presence and emotional support during intimidating moments.
- Resource Navigation
– Service referrals
– Needs assessments
– Basic social work
- Legal Services
– Consultations and referrals to attorneys or legal clinics
– Help responding to a rapidly changing immigration system
Before visiting the Pope Francis Center, bring photo ID, any court or USCIS notices, and a list of questions for a potential attorney. Arrive early, and ask about translation services if needed.
Organizers have described the center as a place meant to reduce isolation for people facing detention risks, removal orders, or family separation — a “safe and supportive space” where “no one walks alone.”
Location and community role
- The center is located at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Logan Heights, a neighborhood near downtown San Diego shaped by immigrant families and cross-border movement.
- The parish has published information about the project through a portal at Pope Francis Center Official Portal.
Federal immigration agencies publish updates and releases through their online newsrooms, including:
– USCIS Newsroom
– DHS Press Releases
– CBP San Diego Sector Updates
Share the center’s official portal with neighbors and community groups to ensure families know where to get help, updates, and referrals during hearings or detentions.
Key takeaways and framing
For faith leaders backing the Pope Francis Center, the service model reflects an emphasis on presence as much as paperwork. Plans focus on standing with immigrants at moments that can be intimidating even for those with legal representation, such as court hearings and check-ins.
Santarosa’s recollection of the parishioner’s plea — partly in Spanish with translation — has become a defining line in the center’s launch, capturing how some families describe daily life amid the enforcement climate as actions expand and families brace for what comes next.
“Padre, están cazándonos como si fuéramos animales” — a quote that encapsulates the urgency organizers say the Pope Francis Center intends to address.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church will open the Pope Francis Center in San Diego on January 5, 2026. The ministry provides pastoral care, legal referrals, and navigation services for immigrants facing mass deportation initiatives. Amidst a tenfold increase in local arrests and federal pauses on asylum processing, the center offers ‘FAITH Accompaniment’ to ensure individuals are not alone during intimidating court and ICE appointments.
