Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that federal authorities have made two additional arrests in connection with a protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, as the Justice Department continues to pursue charges tied to the incident that has become a flash point in the national debate over immigration enforcement.

Bondi wrote warning that “If you riot in a place of worship, we WILL find you,” announcing the names of the latest suspects, Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson, in connection with what she described as a “coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.” The two arrests bring the total number of people charged in the case to nine, according to the announcement. 

If you riot in a place of worship, we WILL find you.

We have made two more arrests in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota: Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson.

— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) February 2, 2026

The protest at Cities Church on Jan. 18 drew national attention after a group of demonstrators entered the Southern Baptist congregation during Sunday services to chant against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and its tactics. Some protesters cried “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to a 37-year-old mother who was fatally shot earlier this month by an ICE officer in Minneapolis amid a federal immigration crackdown that has stirred widespread protest in Minnesota. 

The demonstration targeted the pastor of Cities Church, David Easterwood, who is listed as leading ICE’s St. Paul field office. Videos of the incident livestreamed by observers showed dozens of protesters interrupting the worship service, chanting and moving through the sanctuary before police arrived. Authorities said the crowd had mostly moved outside by the time local officers responded. 

Federal prosecutors have charged those involved with conspiring to violate civil rights and with offenses under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a federal law that also covers interference with religious worship services. Among those previously charged were former CNN anchor Don Lemon and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong; Lemon has maintained he was present as a journalist, not a protester. 

The Justice Department opened its investigation soon after the disruption, saying it was looking into potential violations of laws protecting the free exercise of religion. Bondi and other federal officials have said protections extend to houses of worship and that those who violate them will face legal consequences. 

The church incident has unfolded against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Minnesota over federal immigration enforcement actions. The protest at Cities Church came at a time of ongoing demonstrations and legal challenges over enforcement operations.