A group of anti-ICE activists forcefully entered a Sunday worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, chanting political slogans and interrupting the service over claims that one of the church’s pastors has ties to federal immigration enforcement. The disruption occurred amid heightened tensions in the Twin Cities linked to aggressive ICE operations under Operation Metro Surge and recent clashes between federal agents and local communities.
About two dozen protesters entered the church sanctuary during the morning worship service on January 18, 2026, asserting that a pastor inside also serves as a senior official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Protesters chanted “Justice for Renée Good,” a reference to a woman fatally shot by an ICE agent earlier in the month, which has already sparked broader unrest in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Videos circulating online show demonstrators positioning themselves near the pulpit and shouting as congregants attempted to continue worship. Religious leaders and observers expressed alarm at what they labeled an inappropriate intrusion into a private religious service. Local law enforcement was present outside the church, but there were no immediate reports of arrests during the disruption itself.
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation to determine whether protesters violated federal protections for religious worship by interfering with the service. Officials are reviewing whether actions during the incident rise to the level of unlawful disruption under laws safeguarding the free exercise of religion and congregation safety.
The protest highlights growing friction in Minneapolis-St. Paul related to immigration enforcement actions. Protesters have clashed repeatedly with ICE and local law enforcement during enforcement raids and operations, with tensions elevated by the death of Renée Good and subsequent rulings on immigration enforcement tactics in the region.
Supporters of the protest framed their actions as opposition to harsh immigration enforcement and alleged complicity by institutional actors, including religious figures. Critics, however, decried the targeting of a worship service as an attack on religious freedom and common decency, especially when undertaken during a time intended for prayer and spiritual reflection.
Church leaders and denominational representatives condemned the interruption. Baptist and evangelical leaders issued statements underscoring the importance of protecting the sanctity of worship and religious assembly, emphasizing there is no constitutional right to enter or disrupt a private religious event for political purposes.
The socio-political context for this disruption reflects broader national debates over immigration enforcement, public protest tactics, and the role of federal agents. As federal investigations proceed, religious communities nationwide are watching closely for potential implications on worship security and the boundaries of protest.
