In a dramatic confrontation, a group of protesters disrupted a Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, to voice their opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The demonstration, marked by chants of “ICE out,” centered on allegations against a church leader purportedly connected with the agency. This protest was part of a larger outcry following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a Minneapolis mother, by ICE agent Jonathan Ross earlier this month. Protesters, including activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, made it clear they were demanding accountability, accusing the church of complicity in the actions of ICE. The protest unfolded with independent journalist Don Lemon, formerly of CNN, documenting the scene and engaging with demonstrators.

The protest significantly disrupted the church service, leading many congregants to exit in frustration. “Our worship was interrupted, and we feel violated,” expressed one churchgoer, reflecting the congregation’s sentiment. Despite attempts to engage in dialogue, the church’s pastoral team found the protesters unwilling to communicate peacefully. Speaking to Lemon, one pastor emphasized his priority to safeguard his community and family. Lemon, now operating independently, stressed the importance of journalistic presence at such events, citing his commitment to constitutional values, particularly the First Amendment. Despite the heightened tensions, police presence remained outside the church, with no officers entering to defuse the situation.

In response to the chaos, Attorney General Pam Bondi assured the church leadership of federal support, promising that any criminal acts would face robust legal action. Bondi emphasized the Department of Justice’s readiness to intervene where local authorities might falter. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon further confirmed that the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division would investigate the protest under the FACE Act, which prohibits force or threats at religious establishments. Meanwhile, ICE took to social media, condemning the protest as part of a broader campaign against their officers, implicating Minnesota’s state leaders in fueling unrest. As tensions continue, ICE asserted their resolve, declaring, “We won’t be deterred. ICE isn’t going anywhere.”

The protests grabbed the attention of Donald Trump, as Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tweeted: ‘President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship. The Department of Justice has launched a full investigation into the despicable incident that took place earlier today at a church in Minnesota.’ The Daily Mail has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and Cities Church for comment. In an email to the Daily Mail, ICE reiterated its messaging shared online about the incident. Minnesota has been the hub of protest activity between ICE and left-wing protesters ever since the shooting of Good in early January. Frey said Sunday that his city is ‘under siege’ after being ‘invaded’ by ICE agents during the recent immigration crackdown by Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security. ‘This is ridiculous, but we will not be intimidated by the actions of this federal government,’ Frey told Tapper. Earlier this week, the Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial board wrote that Minnesotais ‘under siege’ and compared the situation in Minneapolis to a ‘military occupation,’ and Frey agreed with that analysis.

Frey told Tapper that his city is ‘under siege, occupied, you know, use whatever word or superlative that you wanna attach, but the bottom line is what is taking place is designed to intimidate.’ Frey also told Tapper that the Trump administration’s actions are ‘not fair’ and ‘completely unconstitutional,’ while also adding that the residents of his cityare standing up in the face of ‘adversity’ and that he was ‘so proud to be from Minneapolis.’ It was reported on Sunday morning that 1,500 troops are ‘on standby’ for a deployment to Minnesota amid protests in the state, following two shootings in the city involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers since last week.’ Trump’s Department of Justice launched an investigation Friday into the Democratic governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, as well as Frey, over volatile protests against ICE in the city. Both Walz and Frey are under investigation for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement. A US official told CBS that Walz and Frey’s anti-ICE rhetoric is what spurred the investigation. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted to social media Friday night: ‘A reminder to all those in Minnesota: No one is above the law.’

Earlier Friday, Trump posted to Truth Social: ‘In Minnesota, the Troublemakers, Agitators, and Insurrectionists are, in many cases, highly paid professionals. The Governor and Mayor don’t know what to do, they have totally lost control, and our currently being rendered, USELESS! If, and when, I am forced to act, it will be solved, QUICKLY and EFFECTIVELY!’ The liberal leaders have been heavily critical of federal law enforcement in the wake of the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an agent on January 7. Frey told ICE agents to ‘get the [expletive] out of Minneapolis’ as tensions have escalated in the city. Walz, the Democrat nominee for vice president in 2024, has also taken shots at the president and told ICE to leave. On Wednesday, Frey slammed ICE officials again for ‘creating chaos’ in his city after an agent who was ‘ambushed’ during an arrest shot a suspect in the leg. The Department of Homeland Security said the suspect was an illegal migrant from Venezuela who ran away on foot Wednesday night before joining two others to attack the agent with a ‘broomstick or shovel.’ The suspect was shot in the leg and remains in a stable condition in hospital. Two accomplices were also in police custody, and the agent involved was also taken to hospital after he was violently set upon by the trio.

Law enforcement officers wearing masks were using tear gas and flash bangs on protesters at the scene, just 4.5 miles north of where Good was shot, in an effort to control the crowds. Frey urged protesters who had arrived at the scene to ‘go home’, warning they were making matters worse and ‘taking the bait.’ ‘For anyone who is taking the bait tonight: stop,’ he said at a late-night press conference to address the second ICE shooting to rock his city in a week. ‘It is not helpful. Go home. We cannot counter Donald Trump’s chaos with our own chaos. ‘You are not helping the undocumented immigrants in our city, you are not helping the people who call this place home.’ The Trump administration has sent nearly 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota.