DOJ charges 30 more people in Minnesota anti-ICE church protest

February 28, 2026

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed charges against 30 additional individuals connected to a January 18th protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators disrupted a service while opposing ICE activities and protesting the fatal shooting of Renee Good by immigration enforcement. These new arrests bring the total number charged to 39 people, including former CNN journalist Don Lemon, all facing federal charges for conspiracy against religious freedom and interfering with worship rights. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the government's commitment to protecting houses of worship, while defendants claim they were engaged in legitimate protest journalism and activism.

Who is affected

39 total defendants (25 of the newly charged 30 have been arrested; Don Lemon and 9 others previously arrested)
Congregants of Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota (including children)
Cities Church (represented by lawyer Doug Wardlow)
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon
Renee Good (mother of three fatally shot by ICE officer)
Alex Pretti (intensive care nurse fatally shot by federal agents)
Southern Baptist Convention (church affiliation)

What action is being taken

Federal agents are arresting defendants named in the indictment (25 of 30 have been arrested so far)
The Department of Justice is prosecuting all 39 defendants
Don Lemon and the nine others initially arrested are pleading not guilty to civil rights violations

Why it matters

This case represents a significant federal response to protest activities at religious institutions, with the Justice Department treating the church disruption as a criminal violation of religious freedom rather than protected political speech. The prosecution demonstrates the government's prioritization of protecting houses of worship from what it characterizes as coordinated attacks, while raising questions about the boundaries between legitimate protest, journalistic coverage, and criminal interference with religious activities. The case has broader implications for how protests against immigration enforcement are handled legally, particularly when they occur in spaces the government deems protected.

What's next

More arrests are expected ("more to come" according to Attorney General Bondi)
Prosecution of all 39 defendants will proceed through the court system

Read full article from source: BBC