On a quiet Wednesday morning in Cicero, Illinois, federal agents descended upon the Light of the World Church, a well-known place of worship in the west suburb, and left the community reeling. As congregants gathered for a 5 a.m. service on September 10, 2025, Pastor Joram Núñez Joaquin, a respected spiritual leader, was taken into custody by masked federal agents, a move that stunned both his family and the congregation. The arrest, which took place at 1400 South 58th Court, has since ignited a firestorm of controversy and questions about the international church known by its Spanish name, La Luz Del Mundo.
The Light of the World Church in Cicero is not just a local parish—it’s part of a sprawling international organization with deep roots in Guadalajara, Mexico. According to ABC7, neighbors describe the church as popular and central to the community’s spiritual life. Yet, as federal agents led Pastor Núñez Joaquin away, the church’s doors were abruptly closed, leaving parishioners in shock and the broader community searching for answers.
Pastor Núñez Joaquin, 37, is a married father of three. His attorney has been vocal about his client’s character, telling ABC7, “Pastor Núñez is a devoted father, husband, and spiritual leader. It is absolutely unconscionable that masked federal agents arrested a pastor in front of his congregation and family at their place of worship. Despite these circumstances, Pastor Núñez remains confident that the truth and justice will prevail. He is a man of unbreakable faith.”
Despite the support from his legal team and family, the charges facing Núñez Joaquin are serious. Federal prosecutors allege that he is involved in a racketeering conspiracy connected to an alleged child sex trafficking operation. The case is part of a broader federal investigation into La Luz Del Mundo’s leadership, particularly those based in California. According to prosecutors, Núñez Joaquin is accused of posing as an attorney and attempting to coerce victims in California into silence, urging them not to report alleged incidents of abuse. Núñez Joaquin has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The investigation does not end with Núñez Joaquin. Just last week, Naasón Joaquín García, an alleged relative of Núñez Joaquin and a prominent figure within the church, was also taken into federal custody. A newly unsealed indictment from New York alleges that García and his co-defendants exploited the church for decades, enabling what prosecutors describe as the systemic sexual abuse of children and women for the gratification of García and his late father, who died in 2014. García’s history with the law is already checkered; he had been serving a more than 16-year sentence after pleading guilty in 2022 to two state counts related to abuse, as reported by ABC7.
On September 15, 2025, Núñez Joaquin appeared in a courtroom at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago, facing the weight of the federal government’s accusations. He is charged with racketeering conspiracy, but, notably, according to his attorney, he is not charged with any violence or sex abuse himself. His legal team has argued vigorously for his release, emphasizing his family ties and community standing. They maintain that the charges do not directly accuse him of perpetrating abuse but rather of alleged attempts to interfere with the reporting process in California.
The federal prosecutors, however, painted a different picture in court. They argued that Núñez Joaquin is a flight risk, citing the church’s international base in Guadalajara, Mexico. With the organization’s global reach, authorities expressed concerns that Núñez Joaquin could easily evade prosecution if released. As a result, the federal judge ordered that Núñez Joaquin remain in custody and be transferred to the Southern District of New York, where the broader case against La Luz Del Mundo’s leadership is being pursued.
The case has sent shockwaves through the Cicero community and beyond. For many, the Light of the World Church has long been a source of comfort, faith, and community. The sudden closure of the church and the arrest of its pastor have left many parishioners grappling with disbelief and uncertainty. Some neighbors expressed concern about the future of the congregation, while others worried about the broader implications for the international church’s reputation.
La Luz Del Mundo, founded in Mexico in the 1920s, has grown into a religious movement with millions of followers worldwide. Its headquarters remain in Guadalajara, but its reach extends throughout the Americas and into Europe. The church has faced scrutiny in the past, but the current federal investigation represents one of the most significant legal challenges in its history. The allegations, if proven, would expose a pattern of abuse and cover-up at the highest levels of the organization.
For now, Pastor Núñez Joaquin’s fate hangs in the balance. His family and supporters maintain his innocence and faith in the justice system, insisting that he is being unfairly targeted because of his association with the church’s leadership. His attorney has been especially critical of the manner in which the arrest was conducted, describing it as unnecessarily dramatic and harmful to the congregation’s sense of safety and trust.
Federal authorities, on the other hand, remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice for the alleged victims. They argue that the charges against Núñez Joaquin are part of a necessary effort to dismantle a network of abuse that has operated unchecked for decades. By targeting those who allegedly sought to silence victims, prosecutors hope to send a clear message that complicity and cover-ups will not be tolerated, regardless of one’s position or standing within a religious community.
The broader case against Naasón Joaquín García and other church leaders continues to unfold in New York, with prosecutors alleging a decades-long pattern of exploitation and abuse. García’s prior conviction and lengthy sentence underscore the seriousness of the charges now facing the church’s leadership. The outcome of these cases will likely have far-reaching implications for La Luz Del Mundo and its followers around the globe.
As the legal proceedings move forward, the Cicero community—and indeed, the international community of La Luz Del Mundo—watches closely. The case has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over accountability, religious authority, and the responsibilities of spiritual leaders. Whether Pastor Núñez Joaquin will ultimately be exonerated or convicted, one thing is certain: the impact of these events will be felt for years to come, both inside and outside the walls of the Light of the World Church.
