DOJ to Investigate Minnesota Church Fiasco

ST. PAUL, MN — The United States Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the ICE protesters that disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota.

On Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, protesters entered into Cities Church and interrupted churchgoers' service. Video from the fiasco could show children crying and people leaving the church. They were protesting because the church’s pastor, David Easterwood, has worked for ICE since 2015. Protesters were chanting “Justice for Renee Good” and “ICE out."

Among the protesters was former CNN anchor Don Lemon. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon claimed that Lemon “went into the facility, and then he began quote, unquote, ‘committing journalism,' as if that’s a sort of shield from being a part, an embedded part, of a criminal conspiracy. It isn’t.”

Lemon could be seen on video speaking with a pastor at the church and asking what he thought of the incident. The pastor said that the act was unacceptable and shameful. He went on to say that he had to take care of his church, to which Lemon said there is a constitution and a first amendment right that gives them freedom of speech, to assemble, and to protest.

Lemon showed churchgoers leaving the place of worship and said, “I just imagine it’s uncomfortable and traumatic for the people here. That’s what protesting is all about."

Dhillon has said that the agency is investigating federal civil rights violations. On social media, Dhillon said, “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." Dhillon is talking about the FACE Act.

The FACE Act is a U.S. federal law that make it a federal crime to use force, threats of force, or physical obstruction to prevent people from obtaining or providing reproductive health services, or to interfere with religious worship.

After Dhillon said that Lemon was “on notice," Lemon claimed that he had no affiliation with the disruptors. This is after Lemon said in an interview that the individuals in the church service were entitled and even accused them of white supremacy. 

In February 2024, Bevelyn Beatty Williams was convicted for violating the FACE Act and was sentenced to 41 months in prison. According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Williams repeatedly intimidated and interfered with individuals seeking and providing critical reproductive health services. She did so by physically blocking access to abortion clinics and threatening staff. 

"This office and our law enforcement partners are committed to ensuring that patients exercising their legal right to obtain reproductive health services, and healthcare facilities and their staff providing those services, can do so without unlawful interference or fear of threats or violence," the DOJ stated at the time.

Violence against ICE and, in turn, violence against protesters has been spurred on by both sides of the political aisle. The shooting of Renee Good, who struck an ICE agent with her vehicle, has emboldened activists and protesters even more.