Attendance plunges at Los Angeles Catholic churches as parishioners stay home to avoid ICE

Attendance at Spanish-language services at a Catholic diocese near Los Angeles has dropped by more than half as parishioners skip weekly services for fear of being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

Heightened ICE activity in and around Los Angeles has scared many immigrants and even nonimmigrants from going out to attend a church service as police activity has ramped up this summer, San Bernardino Catholic Diocese spokesman John Andrews told the Washington Examiner.