Catholic Bishops Hold Mass For ICE Detainees In Adelanto

Here are the morning’s top stories on Thursday, December 11, 2025…

• Catholic bishops from across California held mass at the Adelanto ICE Detention Center near the Mojave Desert on Wednesday. This is part of an outreach effort to immigrants who have been caught up in the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown here in California.  
• Farmworkers across the country are suing the Trump administration. They want to axe a recent change to the guest worker visa program, known as H-2A, that cuts farmworker pay by 25%. 
• Housing advocates filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass over their orders banning duplexes in burn zones.

California Bishops Hold First Mass In Five Years At Adelanto ICE Processing Center

Catholic bishops from across California held mass for hundreds of people detained inside the Adelanto ICE Processing Center on Wednesday, the first service at the high-desert facility in more than five years.

More than 300 detained people attended the hour-long service, which took place on an outdoor basketball court in the men’s wing. Seven bishops, representing dioceses from San Diego to Sacramento, delivered communion and a sermon. The bishops could not speak directly with detainees, but San Jose Bishop Oscar Cantú said the visit was meant to show solidarity. “We want to be close to the people who are suffering now,” he said. “That’s what today was about.”

In November, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement raising concerns about immigration raids and conditions in detention centers. They urged the federal government to allow broader pastoral access. Cantú said Wednesday’s mass was a public example of California bishops standing behind that call. The California Catholic Conference says bishops plan to visit additional detention centers next year and will continue requesting entry to facilities across the state.

Farmworkers Sue Trump Administration Over Wages

Farmworkers across the country are suing the Trump administration over a new rule that would change the guest worker visa program, H-2A.

On October 2, the Department of Labor announced a new rule that cuts the wages of H-2A workers between $5 to $7 per hour. According to the United Farmworkers of America, which is part of the lawsuit, this would directly transfer $2.46 billion annually in wages from workers to employers.

Dan Sumner is an agricultural economist at UC Davis and says the farmworker’s concern is valid. “This reform will benefit employers, and it has to be bad news for the current workers. It’s certainly bad news for the Mexican workers that are brought in,” he said. “They’re gonna get paid less.” Sumner said the move could help ease headwinds battering the state’s $60 billion agriculture industry, from rising labor costs to tariffs. But those savings likely won’t be passed on to consumers. ” Will you and I notice at the grocery store? I will, because I’m obsessive about these things,” Sumner said. “But the average consumer won’t notice a 1% lower price.”

Housing Advocates Sue Newsom, Local Leaders Over Duplex Ban In Fire Recovery Zones

The fight over how much new housing should be allowed in neighborhoods rebuilding from the Palisades and Eaton fires is headed to court.

Advocates for increased housing construction filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles-area politicians over their orders banning duplexes in burn zones. The group YIMBY Law alleges Newsom, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and others acted illegally when they issued orders to suspend the state law SB 9 in certain neighborhoods now rebuilding from the Palisades and Eaton fires.