Minneapolis, MN — The U.S. Department of Justice has announced an investigation into a group of activists who disrupted services at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where one of the local pastors also serves as an official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The incident, which has stirred intense controversy over federal immigration enforcement and the role of public officials, underscores a growing tension between civil rights advocacy and the protection of religious institutions in the United States.

The disruption occurred during a Sunday service at Cities Church, a congregation located in the St. Paul area. Footage shared on the Facebook page of Black Lives Matter Minnesota, one of the organizers of the protest, shows demonstrators interrupting the service with chants demanding, “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good.” Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot earlier this month by an ICE agent during a surge of federal immigration enforcement activities in Minneapolis. The shooting, widely reported in local media, triggered protests across the city and fueled debates about the use of force by federal agents.

According to the protesters, David Easterwood, one of the church’s pastors, is also the acting director of the ICE field office in St. Paul, overseeing operations that have included arrests, raids, and other law enforcement actions criticized by activists for their alleged aggressive tactics. Documents filed in federal court confirm that Easterwood has defended ICE procedures in Minnesota, including the use of chemical irritants and crowd-control devices during confrontations with demonstrators.

DOJ’s Response and Legal Framework

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, speaking on social media, stated that the Department of Justice is investigating potential federal civil rights violations related to the church protest. “A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws,” Dhillon said, emphasizing that interfering with religious services is prohibited under U.S. law.

Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed the statement, asserting that any violations of federal law discovered during the investigation would be prosecuted. The DOJ’s announcement signals a strong intent to uphold protections for religious institutions, even amid public anger over government actions and social justice concerns.

ICE itself issued a statement condemning the disruptions, noting that federal law enforcement officers face unique risks in their duties. “Agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too,” the agency said. “They’re going from hotel to hotel, church to church, hunting for federal law enforcement who are risking their lives to protect Americans.”

The legal framework for such cases rests on civil rights and criminal statutes that safeguard houses of worship. Interfering with a religious service can trigger both civil and criminal liability, and federal law enforcement agencies have historically taken such incidents seriously to prevent escalation and preserve the sanctity of religious spaces.

Activists Push Back

Protest leaders and civil rights advocates, however, have rejected the DOJ investigation as a misdirection of attention. Nekima Levy Armstrong, an ordained reverend and head of the Racial Justice Network in Minnesota, called the investigation a “sham” and criticized the focus on protesters rather than ICE operations in the city.

“When you think about the federal government unleashing barbaric ICE agents upon our community and all the harm that they have caused, to have someone serving as a pastor who oversees these ICE agents is almost unfathomable,” Armstrong said. “If people are more concerned about someone coming to a church on a Sunday and disrupting business as usual than they are about the atrocities that we are experiencing in our community, then they need to check their theology and the need to check their hearts.”

Monique Cullars-Doty, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Minnesota, expressed similar concerns, arguing that protests were a necessary response to perceived injustices. “If you have a head—a leader in a church—that is leading and orchestrating ICE raids, my God, what has the world come to? We can’t sit back idly and watch people go and be led astray,” she said. Cullars-Doty framed the protest as a moral and civic obligation to challenge what she sees as abuses of power by federal law enforcement.

Pastor’s Dual Role and Public Scrutiny

David Easterwood’s dual roles have attracted significant scrutiny. Church records identify him as a pastor at Cities Church, while federal filings and press coverage confirm his leadership role at the ICE St. Paul field office. Easterwood appeared alongside Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a Minneapolis press conference last October, highlighting his high-profile position in federal immigration enforcement.

Court filings indicate that Easterwood has publicly defended ICE tactics in Minnesota, including swapping license plates during arrests and deploying non-lethal crowd-control measures such as flash-bang devices. In a Jan. 5 filing, Easterwood stated that federal agents were experiencing heightened threats and aggression and argued that crowd control devices were necessary to protect officers from potential harm. He maintained that agents were not targeting peaceful protesters intentionally and that no retaliatory actions had been knowingly taken against legal observers.

The revelation that a federal immigration official also serves as a church pastor has sparked ethical and legal debates. Critics argue that this dual role creates conflicts of interest and blurs the line between civic duties and spiritual leadership. Proponents assert that federal employees, like any citizens, have the right to religious affiliation and participation in faith communities.

Broader Context

The incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Minnesota over federal immigration enforcement. Following the death of Renee Good, protests have increased, with demonstrators citing aggressive tactics, alleged civil rights violations, and systemic inequities in ICE operations. Civil rights groups contend that protests at public institutions—including churches—are necessary to draw attention to the perceived overreach of federal authority.

Conversely, federal authorities emphasize that targeting places of worship in protests crosses a legal boundary. Legal experts note that while citizens have the right to protest government actions under the First Amendment, this right is limited when it impinges upon the religious practices of others. The DOJ’s intervention is a reflection of these legal principles, aimed at balancing free speech with protections for religious institutions.

Community Reactions

The protest has provoked strong reactions across Minneapolis-St. Paul. Supporters of the activists argue that civil disobedience is justified given the urgency of addressing alleged ICE misconduct, while church members and other citizens emphasize the need to maintain sanctity and safety within worship spaces. Local media coverage has captured both perspectives, reflecting a community deeply divided over questions of justice, law enforcement accountability, and moral responsibility.

As investigations continue, authorities are expected to gather video evidence, witness statements, and other materials to determine whether federal criminal or civil laws were violated during the church protest. DOJ officials have indicated that charges could include federal civil rights violations or obstruction of religious worship, both of which carry legal consequences.

Conclusion

The disruption of services at Cities Church in St. Paul has become a flashpoint in ongoing debates over civil rights, federal immigration enforcement, and the role of activism in challenging state power. The DOJ’s promise to pursue legal action highlights the tension between protecting religious freedoms and allowing for protest in response to government action.

At the heart of the controversy is David Easterwood, whose dual roles as a church pastor and an ICE field office director have raised ethical and legal questions about the intersection of faith and federal authority. For activists, the protest represents a necessary response to systemic injustices and the tragic death of Renee Good. For federal authorities, the disruption is a legal violation that cannot be ignored.

The unfolding investigation will test the limits of First Amendment protections, federal civil rights laws, and public tolerance for civil disobedience in spaces traditionally regarded as sacred. In the coming weeks, both the Department of Justice and local civil rights organizations are likely to play a central role in shaping the narrative and legal outcomes of this contentious incident.

---