ICE Protesters Storm Church, Escalating Federal Crackdown

When protesters marched down the aisle of a St. Paul church mid-service, chanting anti-ICE slogans while children watched in terror, they triggered the first federal crackdown of its kind—transforming a 1994 law designed to protect abortion clinics into a weapon defending sacred worship spaces.

Story Snapshot

Attorney General Pam Bondi arrested two activists for disrupting a January 18, 2026 church service under the FACE Act, historically used for abortion clinic access
Protesters targeted Cities Church in St. Paul because pastor David Easterwood simultaneously serves as acting director of the ICE St. Paul field office
The disruption followed the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer during protests against the Trump administration’s 3,000-agent Minnesota surge
Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights lawyer and ordained pastor, and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, a St. Paul School Board member, face federal charges with more arrests promised

When Sanctuary Politics Collide With Federal Law Enforcement

The Trump administration deployed over 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents to Minnesota in January 2026, igniting daily clashes in a state known for sanctuary leanings. The federal surge targeted immigration fraud networks, but Minnesota’s local authorities offered little cooperation—a dynamic Vice President JD Vance publicly condemned. The policy shift in January 2025 that ended protections against immigration arrests in churches, schools, and hospitals set the stage. Church attendance dropped across the Twin Cities, with congregations posting “no ICE” signs. Pastor Easterwood’s dual role placed him at the epicenter of this collision between federal enforcement and local resistance.

The Fatal Shooting That Sparked the Church Confrontation

Renee Good, a U.S. citizen and Minneapolis resident, died on January 7 when an ICE officer shot her during protests. The incident ignited outrage among activists already frustrated by aggressive ICE tactics Easterwood defended in court filings just days earlier. His January 5 legal brief justified the use of unmarked vehicles with swapped license plates, chemical irritants, and flash-bang grenades against what he characterized as protester aggression. Armstrong and other organizers seized on Easterwood’s visible role—he had appeared at an October 2025 press conference alongside DHS Secretary Kristi Noem—to demand accountability. Their target became not just an ICE director, but a pastor who embodied what they saw as moral compromise.

Inside the January 18 Church Disruption

Dozens of protesters entered Cities Church during Sunday services, marching down the center aisle while families with children sat in pews. They chanted “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” shouting directly at congregants including youth groups. The service ended prematurely as church leaders ushered families to safety. The Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention later described the event as traumatic for children who witnessed the confrontation. Armstrong, herself an ordained pastor, posted on Facebook that “judgment begins in the House of God,” framing the disruption as moral reckoning rather than harassment. The church reported continued intimidation in the days following, setting the stage for federal intervention.

The FACE Act Goes to Church

Attorney General Bondi announced the arrests on January 22 via social media with the declaration: “WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP.” The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, enacted in 1994 to protect abortion clinics and churches from blockades, had never been applied to protest disruptions inside worship services targeting an ICE official. FBI Director Kash Patel directed the charges personally, signaling high-level commitment. Armstrong countered that officials were protecting “armed agents” while refusing to investigate Good’s death. A magistrate judge rejected charges against journalist Don Lemon, who was present, highlighting selective prosecution questions. Bondi promised more arrests would follow, establishing a precedent that could reshape protest tactics nationwide.

Where Religious Liberty Meets Immigration Enforcement

Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, called the church invasion “unthinkable,” declaring the left had crossed a sacred threshold. Yet Brian Kaylor, a minister and commentator, expressed conflicting views: he considered Easterwood’s ICE role a “moral failure” while remaining torn about protest tactics that violated worship sanctity. The divide exposed fault lines within faith communities grappling with immigration enforcement. Governor Tim Walz’s spokesperson tried threading the needle, affirming protest rights while condemning worship disruption. The church called for enhanced security, joining congregations nationwide already rattled by a summer 2025 fatal shooting during Mass at a Minneapolis Catholic school. Churches face a new reality where political activism targets the sanctuary itself.

The Broader Implications for Faith and Politics

The arrests signal the Trump administration’s willingness to use federal law aggressively against immigration opponents, particularly when religious freedom provides legal cover. The FACE Act precedent could chill protest activity at churches with controversial affiliations, while emboldening enforcement agencies operating in sanctuary jurisdictions. Armstrong’s status as both activist and ordained pastor complicates narratives on both sides—she claims prophetic witness while facing charges for disrupting the very worship she’s ordained to protect. Allen’s role as a St. Paul School Board member adds another dimension, potentially affecting educational institutions already navigating immigration enforcement. Churches nationwide now confront a choice: remain apolitical sanctuaries or accept the consequences when pastors serve dual roles in controversial government operations.

The Minnesota church disruption marks a turning point where immigration policy, religious liberty, and federal-local tensions converge in unprecedented ways. Whether the FACE Act prosecutions deter future protests or galvanize resistance remains uncertain, but the message from Washington is unmistakable: the sanctuary is now a battlefield with federal consequences.