Don Lemon has been arrested on federal civil rights charges connected to a disruptive protest at a Minnesota church earlier in January 2026.

Why is Don Lemon arrested?

The core reason

Authorities say Don Lemon’s arrest stems from his role at an anti‑ICE protest that disrupted a Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on 18 January 2026.

The protest targeted a pastor who also works with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and demonstrators allegedly interfered with congregants’ ability to worship.

According to federal officials and multiple reports, Lemon now faces:

  • Conspiracy to deprive others of their civil rights.
  • Violations of the FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act), which also protects access to houses of worship.
  • Allegations that he interfered by force with congregants’ First Amendment right to worship.

His lawyers argue he was present as a journalist documenting the protest, not organizing or leading an attack on the church.

What actually happened at the church?

Reports say protesters entered Cities Church during a service and chanted slogans such as “ICE out,” disrupting worship and confronting a pastor linked to ICE.

The federal government is characterizing this as a “coordinated attack” on the congregants’ right to practice their religion freely.

Key elements alleged by prosecutors:

  1. A planned protest focused on the pastor’s role in immigration enforcement.
  2. Entry into the sanctuary during an ongoing church service.
  3. Disruption of the service in a way that, prosecutors claim, crosses from protest into violating civil‑rights and FACE Act protections.

Lemon, by contrast, maintains he entered to report on the protest as part of his journalism work.

The legal charges in plain language

Here’s what the main charges mean in everyday terms:

  • Conspiracy to deprive rights : Prosecutors say Lemon and others agreed to a plan that would prevent churchgoers from exercising their rights (here, religious worship).
  • FACE Act violation : The FACE Act doesn’t just cover clinics; it also protects access to religious services, making it a federal crime to use force, threats, or obstruction to stop people entering or participating.
  • Interfering with First Amendment rights : The government argues the protest went beyond speech and crossed into blocking others’ free exercise of religion.

His defense team frames this as a First Amendment press‑freedom case, saying his “constitutionally protected work” is being criminalized.

How and where he was arrested

  • Lemon was arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles on the night of 29 January 2026.
  • He was in Beverly Hills/greater Los Angeles at the time, preparing to cover the Grammy Awards.
  • The arrest followed a grand jury process and renewed efforts by federal prosecutors to bring charges after an earlier magistrate judge had declined to approve some warrants, including against Lemon.

Officials including Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly announced that Lemon and three others were taken into custody “in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.”

Why this is such a big, trending story

This case is blowing up online and in news commentary because it sits at the intersection of:

  • Press freedom: Charging a high‑profile journalist over his conduct while covering a protest is extremely rare and seen as a major First Amendment test.
  • Church, immigration, and politics: The incident involves a church, ICE, and protests against immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration, making it intensely political.
  • Previous judicial pushback: A magistrate judge earlier rejected some arrest warrants, including Lemon’s, for lack of probable cause, which now raises questions about why the case has been revived at a higher level.

Some commentators view the prosecution as an overreach meant to send a warning to journalists and protesters; others argue that even journalists can be held accountable if they join or further unlawful activity inside a house of worship.

Mini FAQ

Is Don Lemon accused of violence?
So far, reports emphasize “conspiracy” and “interference” with rights rather than specific personal acts of violence by Lemon himself.

Does he admit any wrongdoing?
No. He and his attorney insist he was acting as a journalist covering a protest and that his work is protected by the First Amendment.

Has he been convicted?
No. As of now, he has been arrested and charged, and his legal team plans to fight the case in court.

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