Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said arrests are expected in the coming hours following a recent incident at a church involving protests tied to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, emphasizing that those who violated the law will be held accountable.
Speaking in an interview with Greta Van Susteren, Noem addressed the episode directly after being asked about reports involving a pastor and activists at a church. Van Susteren said she deliberately avoided naming the pastor involved, a decision Noem praised, warning that publicizing names can escalate threats.
“That pastor did something remarkable by trying to protect his parishioners, who felt intimidated,” Noem said. “There will be arrests in the coming hours related to that incident, and people will be held accountable for violating the law.”
Arrests coming.
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) January 20, 2026
This weekend an anti-ICE mob targeted a church, emboldened by the reckless rhetoric from Minnesota's sanctuary politicians and the media.
The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly – not rioting.
This administration is committed to upholding… pic.twitter.com/h1un08t9cO
Noem’s comments come amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement and protests targeting ICE operations, particularly in Minnesota. She said President Donald Trump has urged her to speak more openly about the individuals ICE is removing from communities, arguing that public focus often overlooks the severity of the crimes involved.
According to Noem, the Department of Homeland Security is primarily a law enforcement agency, overseeing ICE, Customs and Border Protection, the Secret Service, FEMA, and other components responsible for domestic security. She said DHS is increasingly busy amid what she described as the fallout from years of lax border enforcement, which she claimed allowed millions of unvetted individuals into the country.
The secretary said ICE targets individuals with criminal records, including repeat offenders, gang members, and those already in state custody. She criticized Minnesota officials, including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of releasing violent offenders rather than turning them over to federal authorities.
Addressing the church incident further, Noem said the investigation includes the role of media figures and activists present at the scene. She pointed to statements made by Don Lemon, who appeared during the incident and later said he conducted surveillance beforehand and coordinated with activists. Noem said those details, along with the posting of the incident on the Black Lives Matter website, are now part of an active investigation.
“People will be held responsible,” Noem said, stressing that DHS will not tolerate intimidation or interference with law enforcement operations, even when they occur in sensitive locations such as churches.
The remarks underscore the administration’s hardline stance on immigration enforcement and signal an escalation in response to protests and confrontations involving ICE, as the department moves to make arrests tied to what it says were unlawful actions.
