Justice Department investigation follows anti-ICE disruption of St. Paul church service tied to local official

Federal civil rights review launched after protest interrupts worship

The U.S. Department of Justice said it has opened an investigation into a protest that disrupted a Sunday church service in St. Paul, after activists entered a sanctuary and chanted slogans critical of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The inquiry is being handled through the Civil Rights Division in coordination with federal prosecutors in Minnesota and is focused on whether federal civil rights laws were violated by interfering with religious worship.

The protest took place at Cities Church in St. Paul and was captured on livestream video. Demonstrators chanted “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referencing Renée Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot earlier this month by an ICE agent in Minneapolis during a period of heightened federal immigration enforcement activity in Minnesota.

Why activists targeted the church

Organizers and participants said they went to the church because they believe one of its listed pastors, David Easterwood, also serves as the acting field office director for ICE in St. Paul. Public court filings in immigration-related litigation identify a person named David Easterwood as acting director of the St. Paul field office, and the church’s website lists a pastor with the same name. However, available reporting has not conclusively confirmed that the ICE official and the church pastor are the same person.

In a court filing dated Jan. 5, Easterwood defended certain operational tactics used by federal agents in Minnesota and described the use of crowd-control measures as necessary in response to threats and aggression toward agents. The filing stated he was not aware of agents knowingly targeting peaceful protesters or legal observers.

What happened inside the service

Video from the service shows protesters chanting within the sanctuary as worship was underway. The church’s lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell, addressed the disruption and asked non-worshippers to leave. Easterwood did not appear to be present during the service shown on the livestream.

“ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good” were among the chants heard on the livestream recording from inside the service.

Escalating legal and political stakes

Justice Department officials said the investigation will assess potential criminal violations of federal law related to interference with religious exercise. At the same time, the protest has intensified an already volatile local debate about immigration enforcement practices, accountability following Good’s death, and the boundaries between protest activity and protected religious gatherings.

The case is unfolding amid broader scrutiny of federal actions in Minnesota following Good’s shooting, including conflicting public signals over whether federal authorities are conducting parallel civil-rights inquiries related to the shooting itself. No charges have been announced in connection with the church disruption, and the Justice Department has not publicly identified specific statutes under review.

• Event: Disruption of a Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul
• Federal action: Justice Department investigation led by the Civil Rights Division
• Central allegation: A pastor listed by the church is alleged by protesters to also serve as a local ICE official
• Open questions: Whether the individuals named in public records are the same person; whether federal charges will result