Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, recently had one of its Sunday services dramatically disrupted by a large group of anti‑ICE protesters, triggering a national conversation about religious freedom, immigration enforcement, and protest tactics.

What happened at Cities Church?

  • On Sunday, January 18, 2026, dozens of protesters entered Cities Church during its worship service in St. Paul, Minnesota.
  • The group interrupted the service, moved through the sanctuary, shouted statements, and confronted church leaders and attendees, creating a tense and chaotic atmosphere.
  • According to federal and media reports, protesters said they were targeting the church because one of its lay pastors/elders, David Easterwood, also works as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official in the St. Paul field office.
  • An affidavit later described worshippers as surprised and frightened, with some unsure whether they would be allowed to leave the building, and feeling that something sacred had been violated.

Why did protesters target this church?

  • Activists alleged that Easterwood’s ICE role was connected to harmful immigration enforcement, and they wanted to confront him and the church publicly about it.
  • Minneapolis and the wider region were already tense after a January 7 shooting involving an ICE agent and a woman, Renee Good, whose SUV was said to be impeding arrests when she was shot; that incident intensified anger toward ICE in the area.
  • Some activists and commentators framed the action as a direct protest against ICE, while many Christian leaders saw it as a serious breach of religious freedom and of the expectation that worship services remain undisturbed.

Legal and government response

  • Federal authorities later arrested several people involved in the disruption, based in part on an affidavit from a Department of Homeland Security special agent describing the event and protesters’ stated motives.
  • Leaders of Cities Church have said they are considering legal options in response, including possible civil or criminal avenues, and have called on federal officials to protect houses of worship from similar intrusions in the future.
  • Southern Baptist and other evangelical leaders publicly condemned the disruption, arguing that while protest is protected, invading a worship service crosses a line and should not be treated as ordinary political demonstration.

How is Cities Church itself responding?

  • Cities Church pastors have publicly urged their congregation to “rejoice in the trial,” to see this as a moment of testing, and to continue doing good despite the turmoil.
  • The church has emphasized its identity as a more liturgical Southern Baptist congregation, with weekly confession, assurance of pardon, and weekly Communion, and has longstanding ties to Bethlehem College and Seminary.
  • Leaders in nearby Baptist associations have talked about supporting the congregation pastorally, recognizing that many members experienced the incident as traumatic and as a violation of the sanctuary they expect in worship.

Reactions and viewpoints

Here’s a quick overview of the main perspectives that have emerged around “what happened at Cities Church”:

  • Religious freedom angle :
    Many pastors and Christian organizations say this was not a protected protest but an attack on religious liberty, arguing that the state owes churches protection so they can pursue their spiritual mission without such disruptions.
  • Activist/immigration‑justice angle :
    Activists frame the action as a morally urgent stand against ICE and against a church leader they see as complicit in unjust immigration enforcement, especially in light of the recent shooting involving an ICE agent.
  • Law‑and‑order angle :
    Some commentators focus on the fear caused to worshippers and support strong legal consequences, emphasizing that whatever one thinks of ICE, storming a religious service endangers public safety and erodes basic norms.
  • Pastoral/bridge‑building angle :
    Some Baptist leaders note that many churches in the area serve immigrant congregations, and they see this as a moment to show compassion to immigrants while still insisting that worship services themselves should remain protected spaces.

Brief timeline

  • January 7, 2026: ICE‑related shooting of Renee Good in Minnesota increases tension around immigration enforcement.
  • January 18, 2026: Anti‑ICE protesters enter and disrupt the Cities Church worship service in St. Paul.
  • January 19–21, 2026: National media, religious outlets, and commentators begin covering the incident; Southern Baptist and evangelical leaders issue strong statements.
  • Following days: Affidavit describing the fear and disruption becomes public; arrests are made; Cities Church leaders say they are evaluating legal options and ask officials to protect houses of worship.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.