U.S. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon placed former CNN anchor Don Lemon “on notice” on Monday following his involvement in filming a protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota, where activists accused a pastor of working for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Protesters, including local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, entered Cities Church in St. Paul during Sunday’s service and chanted “ICE out!” and “Justice for Renee Good,” according to reports. They targeted Pastor David Easterwood, who is listed on the church’s website as a pastor and was introduced in October as the acting director of ICE’s St. Paul Field Office during a press conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“This man is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, masquerading as a pastor,” Armstrong told the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Lemon, who filmed the event and interviewed Armstrong and lead Pastor Jonathan Parnell, was asked by Parnell to leave the premises. Lemon also posted footage on social media.
Dhillon, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, wrote on social media: “A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service.” She added, “You are on notice!”
Dhillon told Newsmax that two prosecutors from her office were en route to Minneapolis, stating: “This is going to get the highest attention from the Department of Justice, because there is no more sacred right in our Constitution than the right to assemble and pray to God, and there are federal laws that protect that right.”
This heinous act that occurred in Minnesota yesterday is receiving the highest level of attention from @TheJusticeDept. @AGPamBondi & I are working around the clock, because no right in our Constitution is more sacred than the freedom to assemble & pray to God. pic.twitter.com/kwwfI48dTZ
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) January 19, 2026
Attorney General Pam Bondi also addressed the incident on social media, writing: “I just spoke to the Pastor in Minnesota whose church was targeted. Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law.” She added, “If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails.”
I just spoke to the Pastor in Minnesota whose church was targeted. Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law.
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 19, 2026
If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice…
The protest is part of broader demonstrations against the Trump administration’s immigration policies in the Twin Cities, following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier this month.
Easterwood is named in a pending ACLU of Minnesota class-action lawsuit alleging racial profiling and warrantless arrests by ICE agents. A federal judge has barred ICE from retaliating against protesters amid the case.
ICE stated on social media that “agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too,” and blamed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allowing unrest.
Agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too.
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) January 18, 2026
They're going from hotel to hotel, church to church, hunting for federal law enforcement who are risking their lives to protect Americans.
Tim Walz and Jacob Frey are responsible for whipping… https://t.co/O3WQ6Iftfe
Representatives for Cities Church, Lemon, and ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
