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Federal Officials Announce Imminent Arrests Following Protest at Minnesota Church

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Jan 21, 2026

THE BARE STORY

Federal authorities have launched an investigation after demonstrators protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) disrupted a worship service on Sunday, January 18, at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Following the incident, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that arrests were expected "in the next several hours," while Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to apply the full force of federal law.

According to reports and video of the incident, a group entered the sanctuary while a pastor was speaking and chanted slogans, including "Justice for Renee Good" and "ICE out." The demonstrators claimed that one of the church’s pastors is connected to the local ICE field office. Cities Church issued a statement describing the event as a "jarring disruption" where agitators accosted members and frightened children, characterizing the behavior as unlawful and intimidating.

William Kelly, a protester identified in connection with the disruption, disputed the characterization of the event. In social media posts, Kelly claimed the group was never asked to leave and that the service continued despite their presence. He dared the Attorney General to arrest him, arguing there was no basis for charges and questioning why churchgoers should remain comfortable while immigrant communities face alleged restrictions.

Attorney General Bondi confirmed on Monday that she had spoken with the church’s pastor and initiated an investigation. She warned that intimidation of Christians and attacks on law enforcement would result in federal prosecution if state leaders failed to act. Secretary Noem added that the administration is committed to accountability, asserting that the First Amendment protects peaceful assembly but not the actions witnessed at the church.

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• Participants dispute the claim that they forcibly disrupted the service. William Kelly, a protester linked to the event, stated on social media that the group was never asked to leave the sanctuary. He further claimed that the worship service was able to continue despite the presence of the demonstrators.

• The protest was motivated by alleged connections between church leadership and ICE. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as "ICE out" and claimed that one of the church’s pastors is connected to the local ICE field office. Kelly questioned why churchgoers should remain comfortable while immigrant communities face alleged restrictions.

• Individuals involved argue there are no valid grounds for criminal charges. Kelly publicly dared the Attorney General to arrest him, asserting that there was no basis for legal action against the group. He challenged the narrative that the protest was unlawful, standing by the actions taken during the service.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader: You may see increased federal intervention in local legal matters, as the Attorney General vowed to prosecute disruptions at religious institutions if state leaders fail to act.

Future protests at private religious sites may face stricter enforcement, as federal officials clarified that disrupting worship services falls outside First Amendment protections for peaceful assembly.

Religious congregations with alleged ties to government agencies may face increased demonstrations, as protesters explicitly targeted a church based on a pastor’s reported connection to ICE.

Individuals engaging in similar disruptive protests could face federal investigation and immediate arrest, following the administration's pledge to apply the full force of federal law against agitators.

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