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A mob of anti-customs agitators stormed a church Sunday in St. Paul, Minnesota, interrupting a service after protesters claimed the priest inside was ICE.
Video shows agitators chanting “Justice for Rene Judd” inside the sanctuary of the Cities Church as the service began, raising concerns among law enforcement and religious leaders about protesters targeting houses of worship amid escalating anti-customs demonstrations throughout the Twin Cities.
In one video circulating online, agitators can be heard chanting: “Justice for Renee Goode,” and “Who needs justice, we need justice,” as they stood inside the church during the service.
In another clip, the person filming says that the demonstrators were stationed in the middle of the sanctuary while the priest was speaking. The person filming the disruption then described the disruption as a “secret mission” and claimed that the instigators had just learned that one of the ministers at the church was linked to ICE.
Federal judge restricts ice agents amid ongoing protests in the Minneapolis area
Anti-ICE protesters stormed St. Paul’s Church mid-service over alleged ties to ICE, prompting a civil rights investigation from the Department of Justice and sharp criticism from the Department of Homeland Security. (google maps)
The Cities Church lists eight chaplains in various roles, including David Easterwood, who shares the same name as the acting director of ICE’s St. Paul field office.
Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE to verify whether the two people are the same person.
Share Ace One of the protest videos inside the church that spread widely on social media on Sunday.
Trump accuses Tim Walz and Ilhan Omar of using ice protests to distract from massive government fraud
Community members face federal agents after an immigration raid led to arrests and followed the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Judd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 13, 2026. (Tim Evans/Reuters)
“Instigators are not just targeting our officers. They are now targeting churches as well,” DHS said in the post. “They go from hotel to hotel, church to church, searching for federal law enforcement officers who risk their lives to protect Americans.”
DHS then subpoenaed Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, saying they were responsible for “beating this mob into a frenzy and then allowing it to spread.”
“We will not be deterred,” the Department of Homeland Security said. “Ace’s not going anywhere.”
The Minnesota National Guard is on standby to support law enforcement as protests turn violent
The Justice Department opened an investigation into the church’s protest to determine whether civil rights laws had been violated.
“@CivilRights is investigating potential violations of the federal FACE Act by these individuals who desecrate a house of worship and interfere with the affairs of Christian congregants,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Frey has defended the protests, attacking federal officials who have called the demonstrations dangerous or lawless, and rejecting claims that state and local leaders are responsible for fueling the unrest.
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Appearing on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Frey rejected the Trump administration’s characterization of the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, arguing that the surge of federal agents has made residents feel targeted rather than protected.
“This is not about safety. This is about coming into our city by the thousands and terrorizing people just because they are Latino or Somali,” Frey said. “The people of Minneapolis are speaking out. They’re speaking up. They’re standing up for their neighbors. And this isn’t just about resisting Trump. It’s about loving and caring for the people who call this city their home. It’s been inspiring.”