A Sunday service at a Minnesota church was violently disrupted when a group of left-wing protesters stormed the building, demanding an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and accusing church leadership of collaborating with the agency.
Worship Interrupted by Chants and Confrontation
The incident occurred at the Cities Church in St Paul, where protesters entered during the service, chanting "ICE out" and directing their anger at a senior church leader they claimed was working with the federal agency. The demonstrators linked their action to the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Minneapolis mother Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross earlier in January.
"This will not stand, they cannot pretend to be a house of God, while harboring someone who is commanding ICE agents to terrorize our communities," said protest organiser Nekima Levy Armstrong. The protest forced the service to a halt, with many congregants leaving in disgust after being harassed. One churchgoer expressed feeling "violated" and "angry," adding that the protesters' point had been proven "worthless."
Journalist on Scene and Official Condemnation
Independent journalist Don Lemon, formerly of CNN, followed the protesters into the church. He spoke to a pastor who stated the demonstrators refused peaceful dialogue, saying, "No one is willing to talk. I have to take care of my church and my family." Lemon noted police vehicles were outside but officers did not intervene inside the building.
The response from federal authorities was swift. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon confirmed the protesters will be investigated by the DOJ's Civil Rights Division under the FACE Act, which criminalises the use of force or threats at places of worship. ICE condemned the action on social media, stating, "Agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too."
Broken City: A State Under Siege
The church storming is the latest flashpoint in escalating tensions in Minnesota, which has been a hub of protest since Good's shooting. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has declared the city "under siege" and "occupied" following an immigration crackdown involving nearly 3,000 federal agents. Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are now under federal investigation themselves for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement with their anti-ICE rhetoric.
This follows a second shooting incident days prior, where an ICE agent shot a Venezuelan migrant suspect in the leg after being attacked with a broomstick or shovel. Frey urged protesters to "go home" and not counter "Donald Trump's chaos with our own chaos." Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security reported that 1,500 troops are 'on standby' for potential deployment to the state.
