Anti-ICE demonstrators entered Cities Church in St. Paul during a Sunday service, chanting slogans and claiming a pastor inside had ties to ICE. The church lists a David Easterwood among its pastors, a name that reportedly matches ICE’s acting St. Paul field director; ICE was asked to confirm the identity. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation into potential violations of federal law, while DHS and the White House condemned the disruption and Mayor Jacob Frey defended the protests as peaceful community response to federal enforcement.
Anti-ICE Protesters Interrupt St. Paul Church Service After Claims A Pastor Is Linked To ICE
Community members confront federal agents after an immigration raid that resulted in detentions and followed the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jan. 13, 2026.(Reuters)
A group of anti-ICE demonstrators entered Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday and disrupted a worship service after alleging that a pastor at the church had ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Video from inside the sanctuary shows protesters chanting "Justice for Renee Good" and other slogans as the service began, raising concerns among law enforcement and faith leaders amid a broader wave of anti-ICE demonstrations across the Twin Cities.
In clips circulating on social media, demonstrators are seen and heard positioning themselves among the congregation while a pastor was speaking. A person filming described the action as a "clandestine mission," saying the group had learned that one of the church's pastors may be connected to ICE.
Cities Church's website lists eight pastors in various roles, including a David Easterwood — a name that also appears in public reporting as the acting director of ICE’s St. Paul field office. Fox News Digital said it contacted ICE to confirm whether the church pastor and the ICE official are the same person. ICE reposted one of the videos from inside the church after it spread on social media.
Investigation and Official Responses
The Department of Justice said its Civil Rights Division is investigating the incident to determine whether federal civil rights statutes, including the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and related protections for houses of worship, were violated.
"The @CivilRights is investigating the potential violations of the federal FACE Act by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers," the Civil Rights Division posted on social media.
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X (formerly Twitter) that she had been in contact with the Civil Rights Division and that any violations of federal law would be prosecuted. The White House, speaking through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, condemned disruptions of religious worship and noted the Justice Department had opened a full investigation.
DHS, Local Officials and Community Reaction
The Department of Homeland Security criticized the protesters, saying federal officers and their places of worship were being targeted and accusing state and local leaders of enabling unrest. DHS posted that demonstrators were moving from "hotel to hotel, church to church, hunting for federal law enforcement."
Mayor Jacob Frey defended the demonstrations and pushed back against federal authorities' characterization of the events as lawless. Appearing on CBS' Face the Nation, Frey argued the presence of federal agents has left some residents feeling targeted rather than protected, saying the protests represent peaceful community pushback on enforcement tactics that many view as disproportionately affecting Latino and Somali communities.
The episode has intensified an already contentious debate in Minnesota over federal immigration enforcement tactics and the tactics of anti-ICE activists. Federal and local officials, faith leaders and community groups are continuing to weigh in as the Justice Department's inquiry proceeds.
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