The U.S. Justice Department on Friday increased its criminal charges against protesters who demonstrated at a Minnesota church, charging 30 more people for their roles in a January protest, bringing to 39 the total number of defendants charged in the case.
The expanded charges also include a former CNN host, Don Lemon, who was among nine people charged for their roles in a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Jan. 18.
All defendants are charged with conspiracy to interfere with the right of religious worship, a federal offense, and violating a law prohibiting obstruction of houses of worship.
In a social media post, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that federal agents had already arrested 25 of the newly charged individuals.
“YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. If you do so, you cannot hide from us — we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you,” Bondi wrote.
Lemon and the other individuals who were previously charged have entered not guilty pleas. Lemon, who has now become an independent journalist and has been livestreaming the protest, has claimed that the charges against him violate his First Amendment rights, as his activity as a journalist falls under U.S. constitutional laws.
It has been noted that some of the defendants believe that the prosecution was politically motivated due to their opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
The protest was notable as part of a nationwide deployment of federal agents in early 2026 as part of a crackdown on illegal immigrants initiated during the Trump administration.
The operation in Minnesota took place at a time when local protests were heightened, leading to the killing of two U.S. citizens by federal agents.
The protest organizers claimed that the church was selected for the protest because one of the senior pastors was believed to have connections with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Read Also: Kim Jong Un Signals Openness To Better US Relations
According to the Justice Department, the January 18 protest was a “coordinated takeover-style attack” at the church.
Evidence presented in court through video evidence showed protesters who entered the church, disrupting a service by chanting anti-ICE slogans, as well as confronting some churchgoers.
This led to some churchgoers fleeing the church, according to the prosecution.
The case against the protesters has progressed despite a court setback when a U.S. District Judge refused to allow the arrest of some of the protesters.
The prosecution has noted that the new charges against the protesters are a sustained effort to ensure that the protesters are held accountable for their actions against the U.S. laws that protect religious worship.
The Department of Justice pointed to federal criminal codes and legal provisions protecting houses of worship, including those that address conspiracy to interfere with religious services.
Experts pointed to legal codes that impose potential penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for those who conspire to interfere with religious services.
The Department of Justice’s position reflects a sweeping interpretation of federal legal codes protecting houses of worship, applying those codes to allegations of demonstrations that escalated to disruptions.
Lemon and the defendants argued that the circumstances should be considered within the context of a political protest.
Legal documents show that defendants argued that their actions should be considered a component of a public demonstration to show opposition to immigration enforcement policies, rather than a criminal attempt to interfere with worship services.
However, prosecutors argued that the protest crossed a legal line by confronting worshippers and disrupting a religious ceremony.
Cities Church, whose congregation is predominantly local, had not been the focus of any such federal investigations or protests.
The church, however, has not made any extensive comments but has acknowledged that the service was disrupted, with law enforcement involved after the incident.
The indictment highlights the role of the various organizers who allegedly coordinated the process of getting into the church, chanted slogans against ICE, and confronted the congregation.
According to the records, the federal prosecutors will be using video evidence, witnesses, and social media posts to prove that it was a premeditated process to interfere with the religious activities.
Read Also: Ukraine, US Open Reconstruction Talks As Kremlin Rejects Summit
Legal experts have pointed out that the case involves constitutional issues, including the freedom of assembly, the press, and religious liberty.
Lemon’s defense team has pointed out the relevance of the First Amendment, particularly with respect to journalists or activists who carry out their duties at the site.
The prosecution is reportedly one of the biggest federal cases related to anti-immigration enforcement protests in recent times.
It is also a reflection of the tensions that have been going on in U.S. cities where immigration operations by federal authorities have led to protests, sometimes leading to confrontations with local congregations and law enforcement.
Prosecutors have indicated that the Justice Department is committed to protecting religious institutions through federal laws while protecting constitutional rights at the same time.