Minnesota Church Protest Sparks Arrests And Legal Showdown

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, the quiet sanctuary of Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, was shattered by a protest that has since ignited fierce debate across the state and beyond. What began as a regular service quickly became the epicenter of a national controversy over immigration enforcement, civil rights, and the boundaries of protest.

The demonstration was led by Nekima Levy Armstrong, a prominent civil rights attorney and former president of the Minneapolis NAACP, alongside Chauntyll Louisa Allen, a St. Paul School Board member, and activist William Kelly. Their target was not just the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown, but also Cities Church’s own pastor, David Easterwood, who serves as an official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to the Associated Press, the protesters sought to highlight what they described as a fundamental moral conflict: how could a leader of a Christian congregation also direct an agency whose actions, in their view, have "cost lives and inflicted fear in our communities"?

Chants of “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good” echoed through the halls. Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier in January—a tragedy that has become a rallying cry for activists demanding accountability and transparency from law enforcement. As Armstrong put it, “When officials protect armed agents, repeatedly refuse meaningful investigation into killings like Renee Good’s, and signal they may pursue peaceful protesters and journalists, that is not justice — it is intimidation.”

The protest did not go unnoticed by federal authorities. On Thursday, January 22, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests of Armstrong, Allen, and Kelly, declaring online, “Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP.” The swift response included a civil rights investigation by the Justice Department into the events at Cities Church. However, officials later clarified that no such investigation would be opened regarding Good’s death, asserting that the ICE officer acted in self-defense and labeling Good’s actions as “an act of domestic terrorism.”

Bondi’s hardline stance was echoed by Vice President JD Vance, who traveled to Minneapolis less than a month after Good’s death. Vance called for state and local law enforcement to collaborate with federal officials, warning, “Those people are going to be sent to prison so long as we have the power to do so.” He emphasized the need to “lower the temperature” but insisted that local authorities must “meet us halfway.” According to the Associated Press, Vance also criticized Minneapolis police for allegedly failing to assist federal agents during a protest confrontation at a local gas station, a claim the police denied, stating they had not received any such request.

The arrests and the ensuing legal proceedings quickly drew national attention. In federal court on January 22, Armstrong and Allen were charged with conspiring to interfere with constitutionally protected rights, specifically the free practice of religion. A second charge—alleging violation of the FACE Act, which prohibits force or threats to interfere with religious freedom—was dismissed by Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko, who found “no probable cause.” The judge’s refusal to approve certain charges was met with both relief and celebration from supporters in the courtroom. Micko ordered the women released on bond, with restrictions: they must remain in Minnesota, stay away from the church, and avoid contact with witnesses or victims. However, the Justice Department immediately planned an appeal, and as of Thursday afternoon, Armstrong and Allen remained in federal custody.

William Kelly, also arrested in connection with the protest, defended the action, criticizing the church for its association with a pastor who works for ICE. Attorneys for the church, meanwhile, praised the arrests. Doug Wardlow, director of litigation for True North Legal, stated, “The U.S. Department of Justice acted decisively by arresting those who coordinated and carried out the terrible crime.” Prominent leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, to which Cities Church belongs, argued that compassion for migrants cannot justify violating the sanctity of worship.

Notably, journalist Don Lemon, formerly of CNN, was present at the protest. Federal prosecutors sought to charge him as well, but Judge Micko refused to sign the complaint. Lemon, who insisted he was there solely to report on the events, said in a video statement, “Once the protest started in the church we did an act of journalism which was report on it and talk to the people involved, including the pastor, members of the church and members of the organization. That’s it. That’s called journalism.” His attorney, Abbe Lowell, said the magistrate’s actions “confirm the nature of Don’s First Amendment protected work this weekend in Minnesota as a reporter.”

The Justice Department, however, has not ruled out further action against Lemon. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon hinted that being a journalist “is not a badge or a shield that protects you from criminal consequences.” The government’s aggressive posture in these cases is part of a broader federal initiative to crack down on what it characterizes as violent crime and obstruction of law enforcement, particularly in cities where local officials have resisted federal immigration sweeps.

Governor Tim Walz has tried to strike a delicate balance. While he has “repeatedly and unequivocally urged protesters to do so peacefully,” his office told Fox News, he also stated that he “does not support protesting in houses of worship.” The Star Tribune reported that Cities Church is considering legal action of its own.

The legal maneuvering has not been without hiccups. During Thursday’s hearing, tensions flared when it was revealed that federal prosecutors had not provided copies of arrest warrants to the defense attorneys. Judge Micko ordered a recess until the documents were produced, prompting audible reactions from the audience. The government’s request to detain Armstrong and Allen was swiftly denied, as were their requests for detention hearings. Micko pointedly told prosecutors, “I don’t see any threat or use of force.”

Meanwhile, the Justice Department has launched an investigation into whether state and local Minnesota officials have impeded federal immigration enforcement, sending subpoenas to the offices of Governor Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and several city and county officials. The move underscores the deepening rift between federal authorities and local leaders over the direction of immigration policy and law enforcement in Minnesota.

As the dust settles, the events at Cities Church have become a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over immigration, civil rights, and the appropriate limits of protest. With legal proceedings still unfolding and political tensions running high, the story is far from over—but for now, the eyes of the nation remain firmly fixed on St. Paul.