Protest at Minnesota Church Service Adds to Tensions Over ICE Tactics
📅 January 20, 2026
✍️ Editor: Sudhir Choudhary, The Vagabond News
St. Paul, Minnesota — A Sunday church service in St. Paul was interrupted by anti-immigration enforcement protesters in an episode that has further inflamed local tensions over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics, drawing national attention and sparking a federal investigation. The protest occurred amid broader unrest in Minnesota linked to aggressive federal immigration enforcement operations and a fatal shooting by an ICE agent earlier this month.
Dozens of demonstrators entered Cities Church during worship, chanting slogans targeting federal immigration policies and demanding accountability for the recent death of Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident who was fatally shot by an ICE agent during an enforcement action. Protesters also accused one of the church’s pastors of serving as the acting director of the ICE field office in the Twin Cities, a claim that heightened the confrontation inside the sanctuary.
Service Disrupted, DOJ Investigates
According to law enforcement and community reports, protesters walked into the church during its Sunday service and began shouting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renée Good,” prompting worship activities to end prematurely. The group’s actions have drawn strong criticism from religious leaders and federal officials.
The U.S. Department of Justice has since announced a civil rights investigation into the incident, citing potential violations of federal law that protects individuals’ rights to worship free from intimidation or interference. DOJ officials emphasize that disrupting a house of worship may breach the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances and Places of Religious Worship Act, a rarely used statute designed to safeguard religious freedom.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon and Attorney General Pam Bondi have publicly stated that charges against the protesters are possible, underlining the administration’s intention to enforce federal protections for religious services. Their remarks stressed that targeting a congregation during worship will not be tolerated and that those responsible could face prosecution.
Community and Faith Leaders Respond
The protest has prompted a divided response from local and national faith leaders. Some Christian groups have condemned the disruption as a “trauma” that violated the sanctity of worship and endangered families and children present during the service. Leaders from the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention described the incident as unacceptable and called for greater measures to protect worshippers.
“We must stand firm for the sanctity of our houses of worship,” said an official from the convention, adding that compassion for migrant families must not come at the cost of violating fellow citizens’ religious freedoms.
Other religious figures, while condemning the interruption of the service, have acknowledged broader community anxieties about immigration enforcement tactics. Some clergy and activists argue that the protest reflected deep frustration over ongoing ICE operations in the Twin Cities, especially in light of recent confrontations between federal agents and protesters.
Broader Context: Minnesota ICE Tensions
The church disruption comes amid an escalation of anti-ICE sentiment in Minnesota, where thousands of federal immigration officers have been deployed under Operation Metro Surge, an enforcement initiative launched by the Trump administration. The operation has been marked by clashes with community activists, allegations of heavy-handed tactics, and a recent federal judge’s order restricting certain enforcement methods against peaceful protesters.
The fatal shooting of Renée Good by an ICE agent in early January intensified public outrage and catalyzed a series of demonstrations across the Twin Cities. The episode has drawn legal challenges, widespread protests, and heated political debate over civil liberties, immigration policy, and federal authority.
Legal and Political Fallout
Critics of the protest say that while Americans have a constitutional right to voice dissent, targeting a church service crosses a line that could undermine broader efforts to highlight concerns over federal enforcement. They warn that such tactics risk alienating potential allies and shift focus from substantive policy debates to disputes over protest boundaries.
Supporters of the protest maintain that their actions were a response to what they view as systemic injustices in ICE’s conduct and cite the proximity of federal enforcement operations to community centers, schools, and places of worship as part of the impetus for direct action.
What Happens Next
The Department of Justice’s civil rights investigation is ongoing, and federal prosecutors have signaled that charges could be filed against individuals involved in the church disruption. Local law enforcement agencies, including the St. Paul Police Department, are also examining potential disorderly conduct and related offenses.
Meanwhile, tensions in Minnesota remain high as demonstrations against ICE continue, legal battles over enforcement tactics proceed in federal court, and community leaders seek dialogues that might reduce conflict. The intersection of immigration policy, civil rights, and religious freedom has placed St. Paul at the center of a deeply contentious national conversation.
Tags: Minnesota, ICE, protest, church disruption, civil rights, immigration enforcement, DOJ
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