Judge Frees Anti-ICE Church Protesters in Minnesota After Detention Ruling
Two anti-ICE protesters arrested after disrupting a Sunday church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, were released from federal custody Friday after a judge ruled the government failed to justify their detention.
The decision comes after a weekend protest at Cities Church where activists confronted members over the pastor’s ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The arrests sparked fierce debate over free speech, religious freedom, and federal enforcement tactics.
Confirmed footage shows civil rights attorney and organizer Nekima Levy Armstrong and St. Paul School Board member Chauntyll Louisa Allen leaving detention with fists raised and supporters cheering. “Thank you all for being here… Glory to God!” Armstrong told the crowd upon exit, TMZ reported. Federal authorities also released Army veteran William Kelly under similar judicial findings that he did not pose a public danger.
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The protest had drawn national attention not just for the disruption but for conflicting narratives about the arrests. AP News reported Armstrong shared her own video of her arrest, directly contradicting a White House post that used a digitally altered image of her appearing distressed.
In related proceedings, a federal magistrate judge refused to sign charges against independent journalist Don Lemon, who livestreamed the protest but was not charged after the DOJ sought to do so, according to CBS News.
Why it matters: The case sits at the intersection of protest rights and religious freedoms, raising questions about when and how federal enforcement responds to demonstrations inside houses of worship. The releases may cool some tensions, but broader protests against ICE actions continue across Minnesota and beyond, with advocates calling for deeper policy changes. What happens next: Legal filings over the protest’s constitutionality are expected in coming weeks, and activists have signaled plans for further demonstrations.
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