DOJ Charges 30 More Suspects in Minnesota Church Protest Case

The Department of Justice has charged 30 more individuals for their alleged involvement in a Jan. 18 anti-immigration enforcement protest at a Minnesota church.

According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, 25 of the 30 newly indicted individuals have already been arrested. The indictment was unsealed on Feb. 27.

“At my direction, federal agents have already arrested 25 of them, with more to come throughout the day,” Bondi wrote on X. “YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. If you do so, you cannot hide from us—we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you.”

The protest interrupted a worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul. The protesters chanted “ICE out,” using the acronym for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The animus was apparently directed at the pastor, who has served as an ICE official.

These arrests are in addition to nine previous arrests, including those of former CNN anchor Don Lemon and local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon commented on the recent indictment on social media, writing: “For those of you keeping score at home, this is a total of 39 people indicted for attacking an American house of worship, 35 of whom have been ARRESTED (another one was just arrested in the last few minutes).

“A grand jury of Americans found probable cause for these crimes.”

All the defendants are charged with conspiracy against rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and attempting to injure, intimidate, and interfere with the exercise of one’s right of religious freedom at a place of worship, in violation of what is commonly known as the FACE Act.

The indictment says that the accused entered the church in what it terms a “coordinated takeover-style attack” and engaged in acts of intimidation.

Lemon and other defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them previously. The journalist argued that he was not participating in the protest but was there only to document the events.

He and others have argued that their actions are protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Cities Church responded to the indictment by stating that the Justice Department’s move “sends a clear message: houses of worship are off limits for those who would use chaos and intimidation to advance a political agenda.”

“The invasion of Cities Church was a planned, coordinated effort to disrupt a worship service and interfere with religious exercise that placed congregants, including children, in fear for their lives,” it stated.

“Cities Church is grateful for the Department of Justice’s continued commitment to enforcing federal law to protect churches and other places of worship.”

According to FBI Director Kash Patel, 20 of the additional arrests were part of a joint operation between his agency and Homeland Security Investigations.

The church protest was part of larger citywide disruptions in protest of immigration enforcement conducted by thousands of federal officials sent to Minnesota as part of Operation Metro Surge.

The Epoch Times did not receive a response to a request for comment from several of those listed as representing defendants.