U.S. News
Anti-ICE Protests Disrupt Church Service in Minnesota
Clear Facts
- Anti-ICE activists interrupted a worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, after alleging a pastor was linked to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- Protesters chanted and positioned themselves in the sanctuary, prompting law enforcement and faith leaders to express concern over targeting houses of worship.
- The Department of Justice has launched a probe to determine if civil rights laws were breached during the protest.
A group of anti-ICE demonstrators disrupted a church service at Cities Church in St. Paul after claims surfaced that one of the pastors was associated with ICE.
Video footage from the scene shows protestors chanting “Justice for Renee Good” and calling for justice as the congregation attempted to worship.
“They’re going from hotel to hotel, church to church, hunting for federal law enforcement who are risking their lives to protect Americans,” DHS stated in response to the protests.
Federal officials have criticized Minnesota’s Governor and the city’s mayor, arguing their rhetoric is fueling unrest while church leaders worry about the safety of worshippers.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said, “The @CivilRights is investigating the potential violations of the federal FACE Act by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers.”
The Department of Justice is examining whether the actions during the church protest violated the federal FACE Act, which protects places of worship.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has defended the protests, framing them as peaceful demonstrations and rejecting federal claims of violence or lawlessness.
“People in Minneapolis are speaking up. They’re speaking up peacefully. They’re standing up for their neighbors,” Frey stated.
Debate continues over the impact of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and the response by local and state leaders as tensions rise.
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