• Three activists, including civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, arrested for disrupting a church service.
• Protesters opposed the pastor's dual role with ICE, citing moral conflicts.
• Vice President JD Vance promised strict law enforcement following the protest.
• Charges against CNN journalist Don Lemon related to the protest were rejected by a judge.

The arrests of three activists connected to a protest at a Minnesota church surfaced on Thursday, drawing national attention as part of the ongoing immigration enforcement debate. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong and co-organizer Chauntyll Louisa Allen, along with activist William Kelly, were taken into custody for their roles in the demonstration that disrupted a service at Cities Church in St. Paul. The protest aimed to highlight alleged conflicts of interest tied to Pastor David Easterwood's role as an ICE director, amid chants of “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referencing a fatal shooting by an ICE officer earlier this month, according to LA Times, Reuters, and NPR.

Allegations surrounding the church protests include potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which prohibits obstruction of access to houses of worship, a law that is under scrutiny for its application in this context. Bondi emphasized that the Justice Department had launched a civil rights investigation following the protests, indicating a strong governmental response to the disruption of worship as raised by clergy members defending the right to perform religious ceremonies without interference, according to Reuters and NPR.

Vice President JD Vance, visiting Minnesota as the situation unfolded, stated that those involved in the protest could face significant legal consequences, asserting that the actions taken by the protesters represented a threat to public order. Vance expressed a firm stance on enforcing immigration laws, criticizing the protest as detrimental and promising that “Those people are going to be sent to prison as long as we have the power to do so,” according to LA Times, Reuters, and NPR.

Complicating matters further, a magistrate judge recently rejected the Department of Justice's attempt to charge journalist Don Lemon, who was present during the protest, with crimes related to the activities in the church. Lemon has maintained that he acted as a journalist reporting on the events and not as an organizer, thereby protecting himself under journalistic rights, according to statements released during the controversy, as noted by Reuters and NPR.

The contentious backdrop of these arrests is further illuminated by contrasting responses to a previous police shooting involving ICE, wherein the Justice Department opted not to investigate, which many activists, including Levy Armstrong, criticized as a double standard in handling civil rights issues. Levy Armstrong, illustrating the ongoing tension, stated, “It’s how you continue to move us towards authoritarianism, when you weaponize the investigative powers that you have and the departments that you have,” according to LA Times and Reuters.