Federal Authorities Arrest Nine Total in Connection with Anti-ICE Protest at St. Paul Religious Institution

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announces additional arrests in connection with the January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 27, 2026, 11:12 AM EST

Source: The information for this report was sourced from Twin Cities Pioneer Press.

Escalation of Charges and Federal Intervention

The protest, which took place during a Sunday morning service, saw a group of activists enter the sanctuary chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to a local woman fatally shot by an ICE officer earlier in the month. Federal investigators allege the group intimidated and terrorized parishioners, causing the service to be terminated early. The Department of Justice utilized two key federal laws to bring charges: a post-Civil War era conspiracy statute originally used to combat the Ku Klux Klan and a more modern law designed to protect access to clinics. Attorney General Bondi emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for attacks on places of worship, stating that the government would pursue those who coordinate such disruptions.

The arrests were carried out in phases throughout late January and early February 2026. Initial arrests targeted high-profile community leaders, while subsequent actions involved participants identified through livestream footage of the event. One of the latest individuals arrested, Ian Davis Austin, allegedly stood in the aisles to berate a pastor about Christian nationalism. Another arrestee, Jerome Deangelo Richardson, was reportedly seen on a livestream encouraging others to enter the building. These arrests are part of a broader federal response to localized unrest following Operation Metro Surge, a massive immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities.

Media Controversy and the Role of Journalists

A significant portion of the public debate surrounding the arrests has focused on the inclusion of independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort in the federal indictment. Lemon, who was reporting on the protest for his livestream show, has maintained that he has no affiliation with the protesters and was merely chronicling the event as an independent member of the press. Legal experts and media advocacy groups have expressed concern that charging journalists with conspiracy for covering a public protest could have a chilling effect on the freedom of the press. Despite these concerns, federal prosecutors allege that the actions of the journalists went beyond mere reporting and contributed to the interference with the religious rights of the churchgoers.

The Trump administration has publicly criticized the journalists involved, with President Trump describing the d...