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The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest that disrupted a church service Sunday at Cities Church in St. Paul, federal officials said, raising questions about the balance between protest activity and protections for religious worship.
Video of the incident shows a group of demonstrators entering the church sanctuary during worship and chanting slogans opposing ICE. The protest briefly interrupted the service before the group was escorted out. Congregants remained seated during the disruption, according to footage posted online.
The protest was documented in part by former CNN anchor turned YouTuber Don Lemon. Video from Black Lives Matter Minnesota also show protesters chanting during services.
“This cannot be a house of God while harboring someone directing ICE agents to wreak havoc on our community,” attorney Nekima Levy-Armstrong told Lemon during his livestream, explaining why the group was at the church, per Fox9. “I am a reverend on top of being a lawyer and an activist, so I come here in the power of the almighty God.”
The church’s lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell, did speak with Lemon. He said the protests inside the church were “shameful.” “It’s shameful to see anyone interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship,” said Parnell. “I have to take care of my church and my family.”
He then told Lemon to leave the premises if he wasn’t there to worship.
In a statement, the Justice Department said its Civil Rights Division is assessing whether the protest violated federal laws that protect the free exercise of religion or prohibit interference with religious services. Officials said the review does not presume wrongdoing and remains ongoing.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon responded to video of the protest by writing on X: “We are on it @CivilRights, working with the USAO in Minneapolis. This is un-American and outrageous.”
Dhillon later added: “A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice!”
Attorney General Pam Bondi noted as well: “I have been in constant communication with @AAGDhillon today over these events which @TheJusticeDept is investigating at my direction. Any violation of federal law will be prosecuted.”
The protest followed the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good earlier this month during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Authorities have said an ICE agent fired the shot during a confrontation, and the incident is under separate review.
Good’s death has prompted a series of demonstrations across the Twin Cities calling for accountability and changes to federal immigration enforcement practices.
Organizers of Sunday’s protest said the church was targeted because of what they described as indirect connections between ICE and individuals associated with the congregation. Protest leaders said the demonstration was intended to draw attention to ICE’s role in Good’s death and to apply pressure on institutions they believe enable federal enforcement operations.
Federal officials, however, emphasized that religious institutions are afforded specific protections under civil rights law, regardless of the political views of demonstrators. Justice Department officials said the review will focus on whether worshippers were intentionally obstructed, intimidated, or prevented from exercising their religious rights.
Civil liberties advocates criticized the federal response, arguing that the focus on the church disruption risks diverting attention from the actions of federal agents involved in the shooting.
They said protest activity targeting institutions connected to government power has historically been a component of civil rights movements.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt also noted that President Trump was monitoring the situation.
“President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship,” she tweeted.
The Department of Justice has launched a full investigation into the despicable incident that took place earlier today at a church in Minnesota,” she added.
