DOJ to investigate anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church. What we know.
- - DOJ to investigate anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church. What we know.
Greta Cross, USA TODAYJanuary 20, 2026 at 11:47 PM
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DOJ to investigate anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church. What we know.
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating an anti-ICE protest that interrupted a Minnesota church service over the weekend.
A group of protestors entered Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota on Sunday, Jan. 18, alleging that Pastor David Easterwood serves as the ICE St. Paul Field Office acting director. The protest was held less than two weeks after the fatal shooting of Renee Good, who was killed by an ICE officer on Jan. 7 in Minneapolis.
In an X post on Jan. 18, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the DOJ is investigating the protest as a potential violation of the FACE Act, a federal law that prohibits the use of force, threats or physical obstruction to block people from reproductive health care or access to religious worship under the First Amendment's right of religious freedom.
"I just spoke to the pastor in Minnesota whose church was targeted," Bondi wrote in another X post on Jan. 18. "If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails."
St. Paul Police Department Public Information Officer Nikki Muehlhausen told USA TODAY that officers responded to the church, but by the time they arrived, the group of 30 to 40 protestors had moved outside. The department is actively investigating the protest as disorderly conduct, Muehlhausen added.
shot a person in the leg in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Jan. 14 after being assaulted during an arrest, the Department of Homeland Security said, sparking further protests in a city on edge after the deadly shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent earlier this month.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>A federal agent shot a person in the leg in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Jan. 14 after being assaulted during an arrest, the Department of Homeland Security said, sparking further protests in a city on edge after the deadly shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent earlier this month.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/oUJqv829gSjiCv8m0yxDvg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDI-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b798eb21a826310cf9595ae4a0e5f822 class=caas-img data-headline="Second shooting incident in Minneapolis amid ICE protests. See the scene" data-caption="
A federal agent shot a person in the leg in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Jan. 14 after being assaulted during an arrest, the Department of Homeland Security said, sparking further protests in a city on edge after the deadly shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent earlier this month.
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1 / 17Second shooting incident in Minneapolis amid ICE protests. See the scene
A federal agent shot a person in the leg in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Jan. 14 after being assaulted during an arrest, the Department of Homeland Security said, sparking further protests in a city on edge after the deadly shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent earlier this month.
'Beautiful light of our family': Renee Good’s family reveals new details about morning she was killed by ICE
ICE: How the Supreme Court made it hard to sue ICE agent in Renee Good case
Trump, Walz condemn church protest
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump condemns the protestors' actions.
"President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship," Leavitt wrote in an X post on Jan. 18.
In recent weeks, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has been vocal about his contempt for how the federal government is handling Good's death, notably the opening of an investigation into him and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in connection with a conspiracy to impede ICE's work in the state. In a statement shared with USA TODAY on Jan. 19, Walz's office said the governor continues to urge protestors to do so peacefully.
"While people have a right to speak out, he (Walz) in no way supports interrupting a place of worship," the statement read.
ICE refuses to confirm pastor's role
Protesters claimed that Easterwood, who is listed on the Cities Church website, made an appearance alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during an ICE operations press conference in October 2025.
As of Jan. 20, USA TODAY was unable to confirm Easterwood's alleged role with the ICE St. Paul Field Office. Cities Church did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for further information on Easterwood's role, and the Department of Homeland Security declined to provide information on their agents.
"DHS will never confirm or deny attempts to dox our law enforcement officers. Doxxing our officers put their lives and their families in serious danger," DHS Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement obtained by USA TODAY. Doxxing refers to publicly providing personal information of an individual online, often without their consent.
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon present at protests
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was one of several journalists in attendance at the protest, speaking with congregation members, protestors and one of the church's pastors, all shared in a nearly seven-hour livestream available on Lemon's YouTube channel.
"This is unacceptable," Lead Pastor Jonathan Parnell told Lemon amid the protest. "It's shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship."
Lemon, who worked at CNN for 17 years, was fired in 2023. Though neither Lemon nor CNN offered a reason for the anchor's exit, his leave came not long after he made offensive commentary about former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and accusations of inappropriate behavior toward female coworkers at CNN.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church to be investigated, DOJ says
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