Faith leaders gathered near Balboa Park for World Day of Migrants and Refugees, urging the community to honor immigrants’ dignity, regardless of legal status.
SAN DIEGO — Faith leaders from across San Diego gathered Sunday for a procession near Balboa Park in recognition of World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Organizers project that more than 4,000 participants came together, emphasizing that immigrants and refugees deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their legal status.
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Speeches from faith leaders called on the community to welcome and support its neighbors.
“The message is very simple: you’re not alone, and we believe that all are sacred, all of us, no matter who we are, where we come from, what language we speak, we’re all part of the human race,” said Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Pullido.
Attendees, representing a diverse cross-section of the community from North County to South Bay, stood united in support of families who have faced separation or live in fear of immigration enforcement. The event featured music, signs, and personal stories shared among the crowd.
Father Scott Santarosa of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Logan Heights shared a hopeful message for immigrants and refugees in the area.
“We want to communicate that all of our brothers and sisters are made in God’s image and likeness, and all are sacred,” he said.
Perla Martinez, a Spring Valley resident who attended the procession, expressed the significance of advocacy for all immigrants. “If we don’t speak out, it will just go hidden; it will just go under another historical thing no one ever talks about,” she noted, highlighting the need for visibility and support for the immigrant community.
Faith leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting individuals and families in neighborhoods throughout the region.