A protest turned invasion is now sparking federal interest after a group of anti-ICE activists crossed a legal and moral line by storming and occupying a church in Minnesota over the weekend. The latest stunt in the long-running leftist crusade against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement wasn’t just another street protest—it was a full-on disruption of a place of worship. And if that wasn’t enough, former CNN anchor Don Lemon is now in the spotlight after being linked to the event.
According to RedState, the justification for the invasion was based on claims that one of the church’s pastors is affiliated with ICE. That accusation was apparently all it took for far-left agitators to target the building, hijack the space, and turn it into a political battleground.
“Any attack on a house of worship or a religious service in this country falls under our jurisdiction, and we have a ZERO tolerance policy.”@AAGDhillon tells me that the Trump admin is using the FACE act — previously used almost exclusively by Dems to prosecute pro-lifers— to… pic.twitter.com/9C30nVPTkq
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) January 19, 2026
Federal agents have ramped up ICE operations in the Minneapolis area in recent months, driven largely by the refusal of local and state officials to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The agency’s targets have reportedly included individuals accused of serious crimes—some as severe as sexual abuse against children. But that hasn’t stopped progressive activists from obstructing and assaulting ICE agents at every turn.
But this wasn’t a street scuffle—it was a church. And for all the noise about “rights,” even the most radical activist doesn’t have a constitutional pass to storm private property and interrupt a religious service.
Now, it appears the federal government is preparing to respond. Harmeet Dhillon, head of the DOJ’s civil rights division, has made it clear that the FACE Act—a law often criticized for its use against pro-life advocates—may now be turned against those who invaded the Minnesota church.
Here’s where things go from reckless to outright foolish: protest leader Nekima Levy Armstrong publicly posted the names of participants, including Don Lemon, several BLM-affiliated organizations, and members of the Racial Justice Network. The post openly admitted the motivation behind the occupation—essentially handing federal prosecutors everything they need on a silver platter.
She just…posted everyone involved.
And then PINNED it to her profile. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/nukgJ5JZgd
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) January 19, 2026
Whether out of hubris or arrogance, the move is a high-risk gamble that could backfire in dramatic fashion. And it’s not hard to see why they thought they could get away with it. Minnesota’s political class has been slow—or outright unwilling—to enforce laws when left-wing activists are involved. From the unchecked mayhem of the George Floyd riots to years of legal leniency, the state has effectively taught agitators that there are no consequences.
But the DOJ doesn’t have to play that game. With a growing list of names and a public record of the event now circulating online, the time to act is now. If the law matters—and it must—then this kind of brazen behavior can’t be allowed to slide.
