On Friday, Feb. 20, just a few days ahead of the scheduled Feb. 24, 2026 State of the Union address, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced Reverend Nelson Rabell-González, a local pastor and immigrant advocate, as his guest for the annual joint address to Congress. A Puerto-Rican native, Rev. Rabell-González serves both Spanish- and English-speaking congregations and has been a community leader in the Valley for years, especially amid recent attacks on immigrant communities. He is pastor at Saron Lutheran Church in Escalon and also at Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina in Stockton.

“Here in the Valley, we’re incredibly proud of our immigrant communities, and we’re made stronger by their accomplishments and contributions. Despite recent attacks on our neighbors, our community has remained united around protecting Valley families, and Rev. Rabell-González has been at the center of those efforts,” said Rep. Harder. “As a faith leader in the Valley for years, Rev. Rabell-González has been a trusted partner and source of warmth and acceptance during these chaotic times - I’m incredibly honored to have him as my guest and to bring these stories to Washington as we work to rein in these out-of-control attacks.”

The State of the Union address by President Donald Trump was scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24, after The Times went to press.

“Our congregations and our communities will always stand up for our immigrant neighbors because Christ was also an immigrant,” said Rev. Rabell-González. “Just as churches should be a sanctuary where anybody can come without fear, Valley communities deserve to be free from these attacks, and I’m grateful for Rep. Harder’s work to hold them accountable.”

Rev. Rabell-González is a graduate of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He is married to Dr. Fabiola Ramos and they have two young adult children.