A St. Paul church became the unexpected epicenter of a heated demonstration on Sunday morning, as activists entered Cities Church during worship services. The protesters, calling for the expulsion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from Minnesota communities, disrupted the service, leading to many congregants vacating the building. The group's actions were in response to claims that a senior church leader has ties with ICE and in the wake of the January shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.
Nekima Levy Armstrong, present among the demonstrators, highlighted an alleged connection between the church's leadership and ICE operations, demanding justice for Good. Meanwhile, independent journalist Don Lemon documented the unfolding protest, interviewing both protesters and church members.
The churchgoers' reactions ranged from violated to frustrated, with one parishioner condemning the demonstrators for undermining their cause by forcibly interrupting the service. A pastor from Cities Church lamented the refusal of protesters to engage in peaceful dialogue and requested Lemon to depart for the sake of his congregation and family. Lemon defended his presence, invoking First Amendment rights and underscoring the journalistic importance of covering such events. Notably, police remained outside the building throughout the incident without intervening.
In response to the disruption, Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke with the church pastor and assured him that any attacks on houses of worship would be met with the full weight of federal law. Bondi also warned that should state leaders fail to prevent such lawlessness, the Department of Justice (DOJ) would step in to prosecute federal crimes and uphold the rule of law. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced that the DOJ's Civil Rights Division would investigate the protesters under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which makes it a crime to use force or threats at places of worship.
Commentators on social media, including The Daily Wire's Matt Walsh, expressed outrage at the incident, with Walsh suggesting Lemon should face arrest under the FACE Act, citing similar treatment of pro-life activists during the Biden administration. ICE's official account also weighed in, blaming Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for inciting mobs against federal law enforcement.
President Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, announced that the president would not tolerate the harassment of Christians in their places of worship, confirming a DOJ investigation into the incident. Minnesota has seen escalating tensions between ICE and protesters since Good's shooting. Mayor Frey described the city as under siege from federal agents, likening the situation to a military occupation, while residents reportedly stand resilient.
The DOJ also launched a probe into Governor Walz and Mayor Frey for potentially hindering federal law enforcement operations, primarily spurred by their anti-ICE rhetoric. The investigation, reported by Resist the Mainstream, is indicative of the growing federal-state conflict surrounding immigration enforcement and community responses.
