By Barb Arland-Fye
The Catholic Messenger
Deported immigrant Pascual Pedro Pedro’s story and those of other undocumented immigrants in his shoes may make their way to Pope Leo XIV via video recordings being collected across the country.
Deacon Kent Ferris, director of Social Action for the Diocese of Davenport, recorded brief testimonies from Pedro’s grandfather, Pedro Diego of St. Joseph Parish in West Liberty and their pastor, Father Guillermo Trevino on July 29 in Cedar Rapids.
They were participating in a rally outside the Federal Building that drew an estimated 200 people — clergy, immigrant families and allies — seeking the return of Pedro from Guatemala and the release of Noel Lopez, an undocumented immigrant being held in Washington County.
Pedro, a 20-year-old Guatemala native and West Liberty High School graduate who worked construction with his grandfather, was deported July 7. His immigration attorney said the young man did not have a criminal record. However, he had an order for expedited removal from the time he entered the country illegally at age 13 with his father.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities detained Pedro after his annual check-in July 1 and deported him shortly after a July 6 prayer service at the West Liberty parish at which Bishop Dennis Walsh presided. Pedro’s detention and deportation galvanized family, friends, his faith community and others to advocate on his behalf.
Lopez of Muscatine was arrested this summer on one count of possession of a controlled substance, stemming from a traffic stop a year earlier when he was a passenger in a friend’s car, according to Iowa Capital Dispatch (July 30, 2025).
During the July 29 video recording, Pedro’s grandfather, speaking in Spanish, told Deacon Ferris that he felt “sadness, discouragement, like many families who are going through this same situation.” Diego, whose grandson worked with him in construction, asked viewers to “support us, as you have been doing, with ideas, ways to encourage us to cheer us up so that we are not sad every day.”
Asked what he would like to say to Pope Leo, Diego said, and “Pope Leo, thank you for your time that you are listening to these difficult cases that God’s people are feeling and thank you for your support on behalf of the Church.”
Diego believes the world needs to hear about the current reality in which immigrants are living.
In his brief video interview, Father Trevino identified himself as the pastor of St. Joseph parishes in West Liberty and Columbus Junction, both of which have minority populations that constitute the majority in the two communities. Both are home to meat processing plants — Tyson Foods in Columbus Junction and West Liberty Foods in West Liberty. “So the Hispanic population is big in both of my parishes,” the pastor said.
“All of this support (for immigrants) is wonderful,” Father Trevino said. “The power of the people is just amazing; it’s exciting.”
When asked what he thought the Church should be doing, the pastor said, “Just keep supporting each and every one of these people.” Father Trevino referenced a talk that the late Pope Benedict XVI gave to the United Nations about the sacredness of life. The Holy Father said, “Everyone is willed. Everyone is loved. Everyone is necessary.”
Pope Leo needs to hear that the detentions and deportations are likely to grow. “We need to stand up for each and every one of them (immigrants without documents). Having the pope’s support means the world,” Father Trevino said.
Hope Border Institute in El Paso, Texas (which borders Ciudad Juarez, Mexico) is assisting Bishop Mark Seitz, the Bishop of El Paso, “in compiling testimonies that he in turn wants to share with Pope Leo,” Deacon Ferris said.
Meanwhile, Escucha Mi Voz, an advocacy group based in Iowa City, and the Iowa City Catholic Worker, continue to organize efforts demonstrating solidarity and support for individuals and families traveling to Cedar Rapids for check-in with ICE.
The advocacy groups, clergy and elected officials accompanied several families and individuals to their ICE check-ins Aug. 5. The people they accompanied to the check-in were released. “Those whom we accompanied were told to return in a year,” Deacon Ferris said.
“We have to stand up for our neighbors and those being detained so they know they are not alone,” Father Trevino said. He expressed support for a bipartisan bill, “The Dignity Act of 2025” that would give legal status to some eligible immigrants who currently lack legal authorization to be in the United States.
