Church Invasion SHOCKS Minnesota – Arrests Made!

Federal agents arrested two activists for storming a Minnesota church during Sunday worship, marking one of the first applications of religious freedom protections against anti-ICE protesters who terrorized children and congregants in God’s house.

Story Snapshot

FBI and HSI arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen on January 22, 2026, for disrupting a worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul four days earlier
Dozens of protesters shouted slogans, accosted congregants including children, and forced an early end to Sunday services targeting Pastor David Easterwood, who also serves as acting ICE St. Paul field office director
Attorney General Pam Bondi charged the organizers under the FACE Act for interfering with religious exercise, setting a precedent for federal protection of houses of worship
The disruption followed the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, sparking broader protests against immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota

When Protest Crosses the Sacred Threshold

On January 18, 2026, a Sunday morning worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul transformed into chaos when activists burst through the doors. They chanted “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” screaming at families trying to pray. Video footage captured protesters accosting congregants, including terrified children, while parents scrambled to shield their kids from the onslaught. The service ended prematurely as church leaders recognized the safety threat. This wasn’t a peaceful demonstration outside on public property. This was an invasion of sacred space during a religious ceremony, crossing a line that even some progressive voices found unconscionable.

The target was Pastor David Easterwood, who holds dual roles that inflamed tensions. Since 2015, Easterwood has served as a pastor at Cities Church, a Baptist-affiliated congregation. He also serves as acting director of the ICE St. Paul field office during a period of intensified immigration enforcement. Over 3,000 federal immigration officers descended on Minnesota targeting fraud cases, employing tactics like license plate swaps and chemical irritants that Easterwood defended in court filings. Critics viewed his church position as providing cover for controversial law enforcement operations. Protesters viewed the church itself as complicit, creating what they claimed was a conflict of interest demanding public accountability.

The Swift Hand of Federal Justice

Federal authorities moved with unusual speed. On January 20, just two days after the disruption, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem appeared on Newsmax announcing arrests would occur “in the next several hours.” True to her word, FBI and Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen on January 22. Armstrong, a civil rights lawyer, ordained reverend, and BLM Minnesota co-organizer, had continued posting on Facebook accusing church pastors of ICE ties. Allen serves on the St. Paul School Board, adding another layer of public scrutiny to her arrest.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the charges via social media with capital letters: “WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP.” FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the charges fell under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, better known as the FACE Act. Originally designed to protect abortion clinics and churches from obstruction, the law now applied to activists who federal prosecutors described as conducting a coordinated attack on religious freedom. Cities Church issued a statement calling the disruption “shameful, unlawful” and declaring such actions “will not be tolerated.” The Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention characterized the incident as causing “unacceptable trauma” to the congregation.

The Tangled Web of Church and State Authority

This incident exposes uncomfortable questions about where pastoral authority ends and government power begins. Easterwood’s dual role created a unique flashpoint. He appeared alongside DHS Secretary Noem at an October 2025 press conference, publicly aligning his law enforcement work with his religious leadership. When ICE operations intensified and resulted in the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen, in south Minneapolis earlier in January 2026, outrage found a focal point in Easterwood’s church. Protesters believed they could not separate the man of God from the immigration enforcer, especially when both roles operated from positions of authority over vulnerable communities.

Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, called the protesters’ tactics “unthinkable” and said they crossed a threshold. Yet Brian Kaylor of Word and Way argued Easterwood’s ICE role represented a “serious moral failure,” suggesting the pastor invited controversy by merging incompatible callings. Even Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s office, while supporting protest rights, drew the line at church disruptions. The federal response seems proportionate when considering the precedent. Churches have increasingly become targets for violence, including a fatal shooting during Mass at a Minneapolis Catholic school last summer. Security concerns now dominate conversations among religious leaders nationwide.

What This Means Beyond Minnesota

The arrests send ripples through activist networks and religious institutions alike. Federal prosecutors signaled they will protect houses of worship with the full weight of law enforcement, even when protests stem from legitimate grievances about immigration policy. The FACE Act, historically controversial in conservative circles when applied to abortion clinic protests, now protects churches from the political left. That irony isn’t lost on legal observers watching how this case unfolds. Armstrong herself framed the protest religiously on Facebook, describing it as “judgment in the House of God,” attempting to claim moral high ground that federal prosecutors flatly rejected.

Think Don Lemon is nervous? Heh.

GAME OVER! FBI Just Arrested 'Masterminds' Who Thought Storming St. Paul Cities Church Was a Good Ideahttps://t.co/vRuzlKLcvz pic.twitter.com/KuIH9Fe5Rp

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) January 22, 2026

The long-term implications reshape boundaries for protest tactics. Activists now face federal charges and potential prison time for disrupting worship, chilling future demonstrations that might target religious institutions. Churches are discussing enhanced security measures, fundamentally altering the welcoming atmosphere many congregations pride themselves on maintaining. The case also tests whether religious freedom protections apply equally regardless of political context. Armstrong and Allen await trial with additional arrests promised by federal authorities. Their legal defense will likely argue their actions constituted protected speech addressing government accountability. Prosecutors will counter that no grievance, however legitimate, justifies terrorizing children during prayer. Common sense suggests they’re right.