A church in St. Paul, Minnesota, became the epicentre of a fierce national debate on immigration enforcement last Sunday when it was stormed by a left-wing mob. The protest targeted Cities Church and its pastor, David Easterwood, who also serves as the acting director of the town's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office.
Dual Roles Spark Outrage and Protest
The controversy erupted after protest groups, including the Racial Justice Network and Black Lives Matter Minnesota, discovered Easterwood's dual identity. David Easterwood had appeared alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a press conference in October, proudly stating he led immigration crackdowns across five states. This revelation prompted activists, led by figure Nekima Levy Armstrong, to organise the demonstration.
Footage from the chaotic scene shows demonstrators filling the church during its weekend service, chanting slogans like 'ICE out!' and 'Justice for Renee Good'—a reference to a Minneapolis protester shot dead by an ICE agent on January 7. Former CNN anchor Don Lemon joined the protest inside the building, where Armstrong singled out Easterwood, branding him a 'wolf in sheep’s clothing, masquerading as a pastor'.
Legal Battles and Official Responses
The protest is the latest flashpoint in a growing conflict. Easterwood is currently named in a pending class-action lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Minnesota over aggressive ICE tactics. Last week, he publicly defended ICE officers in response to a separate lawsuit from local protester Susan Tincher. Tincher alleges she was violently detained for five hours after asking an agent to identify herself, claims Easterwood countered by stating force used was 'necessary and reasonable'.
Pastor Jonathan Parnell, who was leading the service when the mob arrived, expressed his disgust, calling the protest 'shameful, absolutely shameful' before asking Lemon to leave. Easterwood was not present during the incident.
Federal Investigation and Political Fallout
In the wake of the protest, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it is opening an investigation into potential criminal violations, specifically examining possible breaches of the federal FACE Act. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon labelled the action 'un-American and outrageous'.
The official ICE social media account condemned the targeting of churches, stating 'agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too', and pointed blame at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allowing such mobs to 'run rampant'. The incident underscores the intense and personal nature of the national immigration debate, where lines between professional duty, personal faith, and public protest have dramatically collided.
