A group of anti-ICE protesters stormed a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday, interrupting a worship service after claiming that a pastor affiliated with the church had ties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Video circulating on social media shows agitators entering the sanctuary at Cities Church as the service was beginning and chanting slogans including “Justice for Renee Good.” In one clip, protesters can be seen standing inside the church while the pastor was speaking, prompting alarm among congregants and drawing sharp condemnation from federal officials.
In another video, the person recording the incident described the disruption as a “clandestine mission,” claiming demonstrators had learned that one of the church’s pastors was connected to ICE. Cities Church lists eight pastors in various roles, including an individual named David Easterwood, who shares a name with the acting director of ICE’s St. Paul field office. It has not yet been determined whether the two individuals are the same person.
The protest is the latest escalation in a wave of anti-ICE demonstrations across the Twin Cities following the fatal shooting of Renee Good earlier this month. ICE shared one of the videos from inside the church on social media, condemning the incident.
“Agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a post. “They’re going from hotel to hotel, church to church, hunting for federal law enforcement who are risking their lives to protect Americans.”
DHS also criticized Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing state and local leaders of encouraging unrest and allowing protesters to act with impunity. “We won’t be deterred,” the department said. “ICE isn’t going anywhere.”
The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the incident to determine whether federal civil rights laws were violated. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is examining possible violations of the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which also protects religious worship.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said she has been in direct communication with Dhillon and ordered the investigation. “Any violation of federal law will be prosecuted,” Bondi wrote on X.
The White House also weighed in, issuing a warning that the Trump administration will not tolerate disruptions of religious services. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Justice Department has launched a full investigation into what she described as intimidation and harassment of Christians in their place of worship.
Mayor Frey, however, has defended the movement and rejected insistence that demonstrations in Minneapolis and St. Paul have become lawless. Appearing on CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday, Frey criticized the federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota, arguing it has left residents feeling targeted rather than protected.
“This is not about safety,” Frey said. “What this is about is coming into our city by the thousands and terrorizing people simply because they’re Latino or Somali.” He described the protests as peaceful expressions of solidarity with immigrant communities and said residents were standing up for their neighbors.
The incident comes as Minnesota officials have placed the National Guard on standby amid escalating protests, some of which have turned violent, raising concerns about public safety and the targeting of federal agents and now religious institutions.
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