LA rallies for immigration justice with Paco Estrada

On this episode, we sit down with Cecilia Gonzalez-Andrieu, Ph.D., a beloved theologian from Loyola Marymount University (LMU), who introduces us to Jesus “Paco” Estrada, a recent LMU graduate who is integrating his Catholic faith with political advocacy. Paco’s efforts to speak up for the most vulnerable in his community has taken him from local rallies all the way to a personal audience with Pope Francis, which he speaks about on the podcast. Dr. Cecilia and Paco are wonderful examples of what it means to put gospel values into action, especially in the face of immoral family separations from immigration authorities affecting the LA community and beyond.

Paco became fired up about immigration advocacy after attending the 2021 Migration Justice Summit. Read more about the 2025 iteration of that same summit here: https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2025/07/02/seeking-justice-through-an-ignatian-lens-at-the-2025-migration-justice-summit/

Paco mentioned the huge state advocacy summit that led to hundreds of California youth from Jesuit schools converging on the Capitol in Sacramento to advocate for climate justice: https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2025/04/24/california-pilgrims-of-hope-for-creation/

Dr. Cecilia is a widely published, influential theologian. Read one of her most recent pieces responding to the current migrant crisis in America Magazine here: https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2025/06/09/immigration-crisis-pope-francis-250880

Dr. Cecilia has also contributed richly to ISN’s Lenten series. Read her powerful 2025 Easter Sunday reflection here: https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2025/04/20/the-power-of-good/

One of Dr. Cecilia’s former students at LMU attended the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice and took what they were doing at LMU on a local level to a national level in what eventually became ISN’s Undocu Network. Read more about that history here: https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2025/02/07/action-alert-undocu-summit-2025-fostering-community-advocacy-and-joy/

Engage your elected officials on just immigration reform through our easy-to-use action alert: https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2025/02/13/action-alert-love-your-neighbor-immigration/