Catholic Bishops Call for Nationwide Holy Hour After Killings by Immigration Agents

USCCB President Archbishop Coakley urges prayer for justice and human dignity amid rising tensions over deportation policies.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 1:31pm

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Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has called for Catholic churches across the country to hold a Holy Hour of prayer for peace in response to recent killings by federal immigration enforcement officers. Coakley's statement signals growing discomfort among Catholic leaders with the Trump administration's aggressive deportation efforts and tactics used by the Department of Homeland Security.

Why it matters

The killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration agents in Minneapolis, as well as the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos while in immigration detention near El Paso, have sparked national concern about the human toll of the administration's mass deportation policies. Catholic bishops are increasingly speaking out, arguing that the 'current climate of fear and polarization' does not align with the Gospel's call to respect human dignity.

The details

Coakley called on bishops and priests to hold a Holy Hour of prayer in front of the Eucharist, asking Catholics to pray 'for reconciliation where there is division, for justice where there are violations of fundamental rights, and for consolation for all who feel overwhelmed by fear or loss.' Other Catholic leaders, including the archbishops of Los Angeles and Minneapolis, have also condemned the violence and called for immigration reform, with Archbishop Gomez advocating for the bipartisan Dignity Act to limit deportations to violent criminals.

  • In the past week, the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis, as well as the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos while detained near El Paso, have sparked national concern.
  • On January 12, 2026, Archbishop Coakley met with President Donald Trump, marking the first time a USCCB president had met with a U.S. president in nearly a decade.
  • On January 14, 2026, the Trump administration proposed a change to a current rule that requires foreign priests and other religious workers on an R-1 visa to leave the U.S. for a year before it will be renewed.

The players

Archbishop Paul Coakley

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Archbishop of Oklahoma City.

Archbishop José Gomez

The Archbishop of Los Angeles, the largest archdiocese in the United States, who has called for Congress to pass bipartisan immigration reform through the Dignity Act.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda

The Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who has advocated for comprehensive immigration reform.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin

The Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, who has called for members of Congress to vote against a bill that includes new funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Bishop Mark Seitz

The Bishop of El Paso, Texas, who has written that the U.S. had become 'a bully state' in its treatment of immigrants.

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What they’re saying

“The recent killing of two people by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis and that of a detained man in Texas, are just a few of the tragic examples of the violence that represent failures in our society to respect the dignity of every human life.”

— Archbishop Paul Coakley, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

“Right now our government seems to be treating undocumented immigrants — men, women, and children — as if they have no rights. The root cause of the current crisis is the country's broken immigration system.”

— Archbishop José Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles

“Surely, we can find another way to hold these men and women accountable for breaking our laws.”

— Archbishop José Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.