Federal law enforcement agents have arrested two prominent activists in connection with a disruptive anti-immigration protest that rattled a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday.
On January 18, a group of protesters entered Cities Church during Sunday worship, chanting slogans such as “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good.” The demonstration targeted a pastor at the church who also serves as the acting field director for the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office — a dual role that critics called a “fundamental moral conflict.”
Bondi said in a post on X that Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Minnesota civil rights attorney and well-known activist, was taken into custody by FBI and Homeland Security Investigations agents for her role in organizing what she described as a “coordinated attack” on the church. A second person, Chauntyll Louisa Allen, a St. Paul school board member, was also arrested later in the day, officials confirmed.
Federal officials are reportedly investigating whether the actions of the protesters violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a statute that makes it illegal to use force or intimidation to interfere with a person’s participation in a service at a house of worship or other protected venue. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel also posted about the arrests on social media, emphasizing the importance of protecting religious freedom.
The protest drew national attention not only because it occurred inside a church but also due to the broader context of heightened tensions in Minnesota over federal immigration enforcement. The state has seen widespread unrest amid a large-scale ICE operation nicknamed “Operation Metro Surge,” which has drawn deep criticism from local officials and civil rights groups for aggressive tactics, including arrests and clashes with civilians.
Vice President JD Vance, scheduled to visit Minnesota later this week, publicly applauded the arrests, saying federal authorities would enforce the law “to the fullest.” Conservative leaders, including figures within the Southern Baptist Convention, also expressed outrage at the protest, calling for protection of worshippers and condemnation of actions that violated sacred space.
Local reactions have been sharply divided. Supporters of the protest argue that the demonstration was a response to federal immigration policies and a controversial ICE officer-involved shooting that left Renée Good, a Minnesota mother of three, dead earlier this month. Critics — including church members who were attending the service — called the protest an unacceptable incursion into a religious service.
As the arrests reverberate across national news and social media, the case is likely to fuel ongoing debates about the balance between free speech and religious liberty, the limits of protest actions, and federal versus local authority in enforcing immigration policy.
