Minnesota Judge Limits ICE Protest Enforcement as Church Disruption Sparks Federal Investigation

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – A federal judge in Minnesota has imposed new limits on how federal immigration agents may respond to protesters, a decision that comes as authorities investigate the disruption of a Christian worship service in St. Paul by anti-ICE agitators—an incident that has intensified concerns over public order, religious freedom, and the rule of law.

U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez ruled Friday that federal immigration agents may not detain individuals or deploy nonlethal munitions and crowd-dispersal tools against protesters who are not actively obstructing law enforcement, including those merely observing enforcement operations. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by six local activists, supported by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, who alleged that federal agents violated their First Amendment rights.

Under the order, agents are prohibited from stopping vehicles or detaining drivers and passengers absent clear evidence of interference with official duties. Menendez wrote that following law-enforcement vehicles at a safe distance does not, by itself, establish reasonable suspicion, emphasizing that peaceful observation and assembly fall outside the scope of permissible enforcement action.

The Department of Homeland Security pushed back strongly against the ruling’s broader implications. DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said the agency remains committed to “appropriate and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law and protect our officers and the public from dangerous rioters,” noting that officers have been assaulted, federal vehicles vandalized, and enforcement operations deliberately impeded.

“We remind the public that rioting is dangerous—obstructing law enforcement is a federal crime and assaulting law enforcement is a felony,” McLaughlin said.

Tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in Minnesota have escalated sharply following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent during an encounter on January 7. The incident, captured on multiple videos, has drawn sharply divided reactions, with supporters describing the agent’s actions as self-defense and critics alleging excessive force.

The unrest spilled beyond protests and into sacred space last weekend when a mob of anti-ICE agitators stormed a Sunday worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul. Video circulating online shows demonstrators entering the sanctuary during the service, chanting “Justice for Renee Good,” and positioning themselves near the pulpit as the pastor attempted to speak, interrupting Christian worship.

In one clip, a person filming described the intrusion as a “clandestine mission,” claiming protesters had learned that one of the church’s pastors shared a name with an ICE official. Authorities have not confirmed whether the pastor and the ICE official are the same individual.

DHS condemned the incident, warning that protesters are now targeting churches in addition to federal officers. “Agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too,” the agency said in a social-media post, adding that demonstrators have moved “from hotel to hotel, church to church” in search of federal law enforcement personnel.

Agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too.

They're going from hotel to hotel, church to church, hunting for federal law enforcement who are risking their lives to protect Americans.

Tim Walz and Jacob Frey are responsible for whipping… https://t.co/O3WQ6Iftfe

— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) January 18, 2026

The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the church disruption to determine whether federal civil-rights laws were violated. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the Civil Rights Division is examining potential violations of the FACE Act, which protects houses of worship from interference and intimidation.

Meanwhile, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have rejected federal claims that state and local leaders have fueled unrest. Frey defended the protests during an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation, arguing that federal immigration operations have left residents feeling targeted rather than protected.

Federal officials, however, insist that enforcement will continue despite protests, legal challenges, and public pressure. “ICE isn’t going anywhere,” DHS said, signaling that immigration law enforcement—and the growing legal and cultural battles surrounding it—will remain a flashpoint in Minnesota in the weeks ahead.

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