A Minnesota church has urged community leaders to safeguard places of worship following a disruptive incident where anti-ICE protesters interrupted a Sunday service, confronting parishioners vocally. The church criticized the protestors’ actions during the event, which descended into chaos.

The Cities Church in St. Paul issued a statement on Tuesday addressing the incident, which was recorded on video and has since gained widespread attention online. The uproar was triggered by accusations that the church’s pastor was collaborating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

During the service, the protesters began chanting anti-ICE slogans, accusing the congregation of failing to oppose federal immigration raids targeting undocumented immigrants involved in criminal activities within the area.

On Sunday, anti-ICE demonstrators disrupted services at Cities Church in Minneapolis, confronting attendees. In response, Pastor Jonathan Parnell issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the protestors’ actions.

“They confronted members of our congregation, alarmed children, and created an atmosphere filled with intimidation and threat,” stated Jonathan Parnell, the pastor whose service was disrupted, in a message on the church’s website. “Such behavior is disgraceful, unlawful, and will not be tolerated.”

“Invading a church service to disrupt the worship of Jesus — or any other act of worship — is protected by neither the Christian Scriptures nor the laws of this nation,” he added. 

Parnell said the church welcomes respectful dialogue about current issues but that “the realness of Jesus” provides “the only final answers to the world’s most complex and intractable problems.”

In one video, an anti-ICE agitator is seen walking around the church service, asserting that “all these pretend Christians, all these comfortable White people… are living lavish, comfortable lives, while children are dragged into concentration camps.”

Cities Church is seen in St. Paul, Minn. where anti-ICE agitators shut down a service claiming the pastor was also working as an ICE agent, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 in St. Paul, Minn.  (Angelina Katsanis/AP Photo)

“You are a fake Christian,” he said. “You’re sinners.” 

Christian leaders have condemned the incident and have demanded action from the government. The Trump administration has vowed to look into the matter. 

“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 Pam Bondi said in a statement.

“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,” she added.

Parnell said the church was evaluating its next steps with legal counsel. 

“Church buildings are meant to be places of peace and solace, where worshipers can hear and live out this message,” he said. “We therefore call on local, state, and national leaders to protect this fundamental right.”