Protesters interrupt Minneapolis church service over claims the pastor is working for ICE

01/18/2026

By Maria Villarroel News Reporter

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Anti-ICE protesters in Minnesota disrupted a Christian Church service on Sunday after learning that one of the pastors was an alleged agent for the immigration enforcement agency.

The incident occurred at the Cities Church in St. Paul on Sunday morning. Church-goers were gathered at the service when a group of protesters suddenly swarmed the church, demanding accountability for the alleged federal agent.

Protesters alleged the pastor was David Easterwood, who appeared at a press conference last year with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

At the October press conference, Noem described him as the Acting Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) for ICE in St. Paul. Easterwood also appears on the church’s leadership website, where he is listed as a pastor.

During the press conference with Noem, Easterwood celebrated the agency’s efforts at immigration enforcement in the area, saying he was grateful for the secretary’s leadership.

“I am honored to lead the officers and staff with ICE ERO across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska,” Easterwood said at the press conference. “The men and women of ERO St. Paul embody the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and dedication. Every day, they face complex challenges with determination and resolve.”

It remains unclear whether Easterwood is still employed with ICE. The Mirror US reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.

Users on social media were quick to attack Easterwood for his involvement with ICE, arguing that the agency does not promote Christian values.

“You don’t get to preach Christianity on Sunday and help terrorize immigrant communities Monday-Saturday without people questioning your morals,” one user wrote on X. “Faith that excuses cruelty, fear, and state violence isn’t faith—it’s branding.”

“Good. No rest, no peace, no privacy for those who perpetuate this evil against their neighbors,” another user commented.

The recent protest at the church comes after days of unrest in the Twin Cities, following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on Jan. 7.

https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/protesters-interrupt-minneapolis-church-service-1625902