Federal DOJ charges 30 more in Minnesota church protest over Trump’s immigration policies, totaling 39 amid clashes on religious rights and dissent.
Minnesota Church Protest: 30 More Federal Charges Filed:
Federal prosecutors have ramped up their case against demonstrators who stormed a Minnesota church last month, adding 30 new defendants to an indictment that now totals 39 people. The charges stem from a chaotic interruption of a Sunday service, fueled by opposition to President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration enforcement operations. Officials frame the incident as a direct assault on religious freedoms, while critics argue it’s a heavy-handed response to legitimate dissent. This development underscores the volatile intersection of immigration policy, protest rights, and faith in America’s heartland.
Feds Expand Charges in Minnesota Church ICE Protest :
The incident unfolded on January 18, 2026, when approximately 40 protesters entered Cities Church during a morning worship service. Video footage shows them chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referencing a U.S. citizen fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on January 7. Congregants, including families with children, were caught off guard as the group accused Pastor Easterwood of hypocrisy-preaching love while leading immigration enforcement operations that protesters claimed terrorized communities.
Easterwood was not present, but the demonstration lasted several minutes, leading to shouts and confusion before protesters left. No injuries were reported, but church representatives described it as a terrifying ordeal that placed worshippers “in fear for their lives.”
Federal response was swift. The DOJ opened a civil rights investigation the next day. On January 30, nine initial defendants were indicted and arrested, including Lemon, who was live-streaming the event as an independent journalist. He maintains he entered the church solely to cover the story, not participate. A federal judge initially rejected arrest warrants for Lemon and Fort, citing insufficient probable cause, but a grand jury later approved the charges.
The February 27 superseding indictment expanded the case dramatically, naming 30 more individuals based on video evidence and witness accounts. Attorney General Bondi announced the development on X, stating federal agents had arrested 25 of the new defendants that day.
Operation Metro Surge and Its Fallout:
This protest did not occur in a vacuum. It erupted amid “Operation Metro Surge,” a massive federal immigration enforcement effort launched in December 2025 targeting Minnesota’s Twin Cities area. President Trump justified the operation by citing alleged fraud in state programs involving the Somali community, deploying up to 3,000 agents from ICE and CBP.
The crackdown resulted in over 4,000 arrests but drew fierce criticism for aggressive tactics, including the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens: Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 25. Protests escalated, with economic fallout-restaurants and construction sites reported revenue drops of 50-80% as workers feared showing up. Federal judges intervened multiple times, finding ICE violated court orders and extending protections for refugees.
By mid-February 2026, the operation wound down after White House border czar Tom Homan cited improved local cooperation, though critics pointed to political backlash and lawsuits. The church protest symbolized wider unrest, with demonstrators arguing Easterwood’s ICE role contradicted Christian values of compassion.
The surge’s legacy includes frozen federal funds for Minnesota programs and ongoing fraud investigations, but also highlighted federal-state tensions, with Governor Tim Walz proposing reforms to address underlying issues.