Church INVASION Attackers Finally ARRESTED

People sitting in church pews during service.

Federal agents arrested two more individuals in connection with the January 18 storming of a Minnesota church during worship services, bringing the total indictments to nine as Attorney General Pam Bondi vows to prosecute those who disrupt Americans’ constitutional right to freely worship.

Story Snapshot

Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson arrested for roles in January 18 church disruption at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota
Nine total individuals now indicted on federal civil rights charges for allegedly conspiring to interfere with worshippers’ First Amendment rights
Anti-ICE protesters stormed church led by ICE field office director David Easterwood, chanting slogans and disrupting services
Attorney General Pam Bondi declared “If you riot in a place of worship, we WILL find you” as Trump administration enforces immigration policies
High-profile arrestees include former CNN host Don Lemon, who claims journalistic role, and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong

Federal Crackdown on Church Disruption

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on February 2, 2026, the arrests of Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson for their alleged participation in coordinating an attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. The arrests stem from a January 18 incident where protesters stormed the Southern Baptist church during worship services, chanting anti-ICE slogans and demanding justice for Renee Good, a woman fatally shot by ICE officers. A federal grand jury indicted nine individuals on conspiracy charges and interfering with worshippers’ First Amendment rights to freely exercise their religion without intimidation or disruption.

Targeting Church with ICE Connections

The protesters specifically targeted Cities Church because its pastor, David Easterwood, serves as the director of ICE’s St. Paul field office. Austin allegedly berated Easterwood about Christian nationalism during the disruption, while Richardson reportedly traveled with former CNN host Don Lemon and urged the group to catch up with other protesters inside the church. The coordinated nature of the protest, with participants arriving together and interrupting services with chants of “ICE out” and references to Good’s death, formed the basis for federal conspiracy charges. This represents a serious escalation where religious institutions become battlegrounds for immigration policy debates.

High-Profile Arrests and Political Backlash

The indictments include prominent figures like Don Lemon, who was arrested Friday but released, claiming he attended as an independent journalist rather than a participant. Georgia Fort, another independent journalist, and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong were also arrested in earlier sweeps. Representative Ilhan Omar immediately condemned the arrests as an “unconstitutional abuse of power,” demanding immediate release of those detained. The political divide highlights fundamental disagreements about religious liberty versus protest rights, with the Trump administration prioritizing protection of worship services against disruption. Bondi’s forceful statement underscores the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting those who violate Americans’ constitutional rights to gather for worship without interference or intimidation.

Immigration Enforcement Context and Broader Implications

The church storming occurred amid intensified ICE operations in Minnesota under President Trump’s administration, including funding cuts to sanctuary cities announced the same day as the latest arrests. Anti-ICE protests surged following the deaths of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis, and Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot during a protest. These incidents have polarized communities, with immigration activists viewing federal enforcement as overreach while supporters see necessary action to restore law and order. The arrests send a clear message that disrupting religious services crosses a constitutional line, regardless of political motivations. For conservatives who value both religious liberty and rule of law, the prosecutions represent appropriate consequences for those who violate others’ First Amendment rights while claiming to defend their own political positions.

The nine federal indictments demonstrate the Justice Department’s determination to hold accountable those who coordinate attacks on places of worship. As investigations continue into the deaths that sparked these protests, the legal proceedings will test whether participants can claim journalistic or activist immunity when allegedly conspiring to disrupt constitutional rights. The outcome may establish important precedents for balancing protest rights against religious freedom protections in an era of heightened political tensions over immigration enforcement.