• The Trump administration indicted 30 additional protesters for a church disruption during an anti-ICE demonstration.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the charges stress the protection of religious freedom.
• The total number of defendants in the case now stands at 39, including notable figures like Don Lemon.
• Protesters argue the charges infringe upon their First Amendment rights.

On February 27, 2026, the U.S. Justice Department expanded its indictment against protesters involved in disrupting a church service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, during an anti-ICE rally on January 18. The new charges bring the total to 39 individuals implicated in a case framed as an attack on religious freedom. "YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP," said Attorney General Pam Bondi, stressing that federal agents had already arrested 25 of those charged and warned others that similar actions would lead to arrests, according to Reuters and India Times.

The protesters, who chanted against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), were reportedly upset after discovering that a pastor at the church also served as a local ICE official. They engaged in what the indictment describes as a “coordinated takeover-style attack,” obstructing worship and instilling fear, particularly among congregants and children, as documented in indictments, according to India Times and Al Jazeera.

Notable figures among the indicted include former CNN anchor Don Lemon, who claims he was present in a journalistic capacity and argues that the charges violate his First Amendment rights. He and others have pleaded not guilty while raising concerns about potential censorship, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The charges stem from broader tensions regarding Trump administration policies on immigration, especially Operation Metro Surge, which increased law enforcement presence in Minnesota. After controversies and violent incidents tied to ICE actions gained public scrutiny, demonstrations surged, culminating in the protest at Cities Church as a response to perceived injustices, reported India Times, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.