California’s governor is using clemency to collide head-on with federal immigration enforcement—while activists claim the Church is steering the wheel. What Newsom Actually Did—and What the Record Does Not Show Governor Gavin Newsom granted clemency in late 2025 to Psalm Behpoor, a Fresno restaurant manager who was detained by ICE after a June 2025 immigration appointment and held for roughly four months in Bakersfield. The clemency covered a 2004 first-degree residential burglary conviction from when Behpoor was 18, not an attempted-murder case. Claims that Catholic leaders drove this specific pardon remain unverified in the available documentation. Newsom’s clemency materials describe recommendations coming from a mix of law enforcement officers, teachers, elected officials, and other community and religious leaders. The application reportedly arrived in October 2024, with clemency granted more than a year later—timing that suggests a standard review process rather than a rapid-response political stunt. None of the cited reporting provides a clear paper trail showing Catholic leaders as the decisive force behind Behpoor’s specific case. ICE’s Position: State Pardons Don’t Override Federal Immigration Law Federal officials responded bluntly. ICE stated that Behpoor remains “an illegal alien” and said the agency’s mission is to identify and remove “criminal aliens and others” who violate immigration laws. ICE also reiterated a broader standard: any alien in violation of U.S. immigration law may be arrested, detained, and removed if found removable under a final order, regardless of nationality. In practice, that means clemency can complicate a case, but it does not automatically stop deportation. Behpoor’s immigration attorney described the pardon as “not a guarantee,” but as another legal argument to reopen removal proceedings. One key detail matters for readers tracking the policy stakes: reporting indicates Behpoor’s non-aggravated burglary is no longer considered a deportable felony, potentially changing the legal basis for removal. That distinction underscores a recurring national debate—whether decades-old crimes, later reclassified under evolving standards, should permanently bar someone from remaining in the country. Catholic Activism, Courtroom Presence, and Claims of “Religious Freedom” Pressure Separate from Behpoor’s case, Catholic leadership in California has increased visibility around immigration enforcement. Reports describe clergy appearing at immigration court proceedings and, at least temporarily, influencing how migrants are treated and how agents behave. The activism is framed by church leaders as a humanitarian and pastoral response, rooted in the church’s long-standing advocacy for migrants and refugees. For conservatives, the central factual point is that a major institution is actively organizing around enforcement tactics. When Enforcement Meets Worship: The Mass Exemption Controversy In early 2026, a Southern California bishop issued a rare decree excusing Catholics from Sunday Mass amid fears of immigration raids, with advocates describing it as evidence that even churches no longer feel safe. That move injected religious liberty language into a political dispute over enforcement locations and tactics. A White House spokesperson also highlighted a perceived double standard, pointing to pandemic-era church closures as evidence that some officials invoke “religious freedom” selectively when it aligns with immigration activism. From a constitutional perspective, the public record here is mixed and incomplete. The sources describe fear of raids, but they do not establish a universal policy of targeting churches, nor do they provide a definitive account of what enforcement guidelines were in each reported incident. What is clear is the political effect: state and institutional leaders are using the language of faith and freedom to pressure federal agencies, while federal authorities insist they are executing duly enacted law. Sources: Trump’s immigration crackdown prompts California bishop to excuse Catholics from Sunday Mass Officials respond to Governor Gavin Newsom pardon for Fresno manager Gov. Gavin Newsom pardons detained Fresno manager Psalm Behpoor Presence of Catholic leaders at immigration court scatters ICE agents at least temporarily Archbishop Gomez urges calm and restraint as ICE protests erupt in Los Angeles Catholic dioceses respond to ICE raids; wildfire retardant draws scrutiny; Gold Country arts talk Newly appointed Detroit archbishop suggested canonical penalties for Trump immigration officials