A church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, was disrupted on a Sunday morning as protesters opposed to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeted the church due to its connection to an ICE official. The demonstration at Cities Church highlighted the rising tensions between federal authorities and activists in the region.
Dozens of demonstrators entered the church shouting “ICE out!” while confronting congregants and the lead pastor. The protest was aimed at David Easterwood, a pastor at the church and the acting field office director for ICE in St. Paul. He has recently been named as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging that immigration agents violated protesters’ rights during demonstrations against federal immigration policies.
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded to the incident by stating on social media that “Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law.” The escalating conflict comes in light of a recent surge in immigration enforcement known as Operation Metro Surge, which has seen an influx of federal agents in the Minneapolis area, particularly following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, by a Border Patrol agent on January 7, 2024.
Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, announced an investigation into the protesters’ actions, describing them as “desecrating a house of worship.” Citing the FACE Act, Dhillon stated that the law prohibits interference with individuals exercising their First Amendment rights at places of worship.
The response to the protest contrasts sharply with the federal government’s handling of Good’s death, where the Department of Justice swiftly closed an inquiry and did not cooperate with local law enforcement. Nekima Levy Armstrong, a former NAACP president, criticized the focus on the church disruption instead of the ongoing community issues, stating, “If people are more concerned about someone coming to a church on a Sunday and disrupting business as usual than they are about the atrocities that we are experiencing in our community, then they need to check their theology and they need to check their hearts.”
Despite attempts to reach out, Cities Church has not publicly responded to inquiries regarding the incident. A police vehicle was seen outside the church following the confrontation, but no officials engaged with the media.
David Easterwood, who has been with ICE since 2015, previously testified in the lawsuit that he feared any court orders might jeopardize both law enforcement personnel and public safety. Judge Katherine Menendez ruled that ICE agents had acted excessively towards some protestors who were following their activities, ultimately issuing a symbolic injunction against detaining individuals engaged in unobtrusive protest activities.
Easterwood had appeared with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem just days after assuming his role, asserting, “Our officers demonstrate every day what it means to serve with honor and dedication.”
Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the protesters, claiming their actions extended to churches and blaming local government officials for inciting unrest.
As emotions run high, this incident exemplifies the ongoing struggle to balance the protection of free expression with the rights of individuals seeking to worship peacefully. Legal analyst Carrie Cordero noted the challenge for law enforcement in ensuring that both protesters and worshippers can exercise their rights without intimidation.
The situation in Minnesota remains tense, with both sides grappling with the implications of their actions and the responses that follow.
