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One Hundred Clergy Members Arrested in Minnesota for Protesting ICE

Jacques Pj Provost

2026-06-20 22:19:21

The Context of the Protests in Minnesota

The arrests of clergy members are part of a broader protest movement that began immediately after the death of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an ICE agent during an enforcement operation. Since January 7, thousands of Minnesotans have marched daily in the Twin Cities to demand an end to ICE operations in the state. The movement, called “ICE Out of Minnesota,” has brought together a wide range of organizations, including unions, progressive groups, and religious communities, uniting political and spiritual forces behind a common cause.

The protests have grown in number and intensity over the days, culminating in the “ICE Out of Minnesota: A Day of Truth and Freedom” event on Friday, January 23. According to organizers, more than 700 businesses across the state closed their doors in solidarity with the movement, ranging from small bookstores to major cultural institutions such as the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. This wave of strikes and closures demonstrates the scale of the mobilization and the community’s determination to pressure federal authorities to end what many consider a military occupation of their state by immigration forces.

What is happening in Minnesota is a revolt of conscience. Thousands of people who had never protested before are taking to the streets—not for political slogans, but because they can no longer bear to see their neighbors, colleagues, and friends hunted down like animals. When a federal agent shoots and kills a mother of three in front of her home, something breaks in the collective soul. People don’t take action when it’s abstract, when it’s just statistics. But when it’s Renee Good—when it’s someone we knew, or could have known—it becomes personal. And when it becomes personal, we don’t stay home.

The Tragic Cases That Fueled the Anger

The community’s anger has been fueled by several tragic cases that have emerged during the Trump administration’s increased immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. Perhaps the most heartbreaking is the case of Liam Ramos, a five-year-old boy who was detained along with his father after his father fled during an ICE raid in Columbia Heights. The boy, a U.S. citizen, is now at the Dilley Detention Center in Texas with his father—a situation that the superintendent of the Columbia Heights School District described as using a child as bait.

Another shocking case involves a two-year-old girl, an Ecuadorian citizen born in the United States, who was separated from her father and transported to Texas despite a court order prohibiting her transfer out of the state. The child and her father, both pending asylum seekers, were not subject to final deportation orders. These incidents have crystallized the immigrant community’s fears regarding the brutality and inhumanity of ICE operations, strengthening the protesters’ determination to demand immediate policy change.

They’re arresting children now. They’re separating them from their parents as if they were lost packages. They’re putting a five-year-old boy in a detention center in Texas, thousands of kilometers from home, and they call that justice. It literally turns my stomach. When I hear these stories, when I see the faces of these terrified children, I wonder what’s left of our humanity. How can anyone justify this? How can anyone sleep at night knowing they’ve separated a child from their family? This isn’t politics—it’s pure and simple barbarism.

Section 3: The Crucial Role of Religious Leaders

Faith in Minnesota and Its Fight for Justice

The organization Faith in Minnesota, which coordinated the protest at the airport, describes itself as an activist group calling for racial and economic justice in Minnesota. This coalition of religious and community groups has been at the forefront of resistance against ICE operations, using its moral influence to mobilize faith communities and beyond. According to their own press release, more than two thousand deportation flights have passed through the Minneapolis airport, and twelve airport workers have been arrested by ICE while at work or on their way to work.

The organization specifically called on airlines—particularly Delta and Signature Aviation—to take a stand against federal enforcement of immigration laws. In a statement posted on social media, Faith in Minnesota said that in -20-degree weather, more than one hundred members of the clergy and religious leaders were arrested at MSP Airport as they gathered for a peaceful, prayerful act of resistance to demand that airlines—especially Delta and Signature Aviation—stand with Minnesotans and say #ICEOutOfMN. This strategy of putting pressure on private companies represents an innovative approach to challenging federal policies by targeting their business partners.

I am fascinated by the power of faith when it becomes action. These religious leaders don’t just pray in their churches, synagogues, or mosques. They take their faith to the streets, where it hurts, where it matters. They use their moral authority to say loud and clear that what is happening is unacceptable. In a world where many religious leaders remain silent or complicit, these people are a beacon of light. They remind us that faith isn’t just what we believe—it’s what we do. And today, they’re choosing to be arrested rather than remain silent.

The reaction of the arrested pastors and priests

Reverend Mariah Furness Tollgaard of Hamline Church in Saint Paul, who was among the religious leaders arrested, explained her decision to stay and be arrested despite police orders. She stated that she and others had chosen to stay to show their support for migrants, including members of her own congregation who live in fear of leaving their homes. After her brief detention, she planned to return to her church to organize a prayer vigil, turning her arrest into an act of religious witness.

Reverend Elizabeth Barish Browne, a Unitarian Universalist pastor from Cheyenne, Wyoming, traveled to Minneapolis to participate in the rally despite a high of minus nine degrees Fahrenheit. “What is happening here is clearly immoral,” she said, adding, “It’s certainly cold, but the kind of ice that’s dangerous to us isn’t the weather.” These testimonies illustrate how religious leaders view their participation in the protests as an extension of their ministry and a concrete expression of their spiritual values.

These pastors and priests give me hope. They show that there are still people willing to sacrifice their comfort, their reputation, even their freedom for what they believe in. When Reverend Mariah Furness Tollgaard says she was arrested to stand up for her congregation—who are afraid to leave their homes—it reminds me that faith isn’t just words in a book. It’s about concrete actions. It’s about being arrested in twenty-degree weather because you refuse to accept the unacceptable. That’s true courage; that’s true faith.

Section 4: The Position of Airport Authorities

The Metropolitan Airports Commission’s Justification for the Arrests

The Metropolitan Airports Commission, which manages the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, defended its decision to arrest the protesters, noting that the organizers had worked with authorities in advance to obtain a permit for the gathering. Jeff Lea, a spokesperson for the commission, explained that airport police arrested about 100 people because they had exceeded the scope of their rally permit and disrupted flight operations. The protesters were issued citations for trespassing and failure to comply with a police officer before being released.

The commission also clarified that it cannot legally restrict access to the airport for public or private aircraft operations, which explains why deportation flights continue to pass through the airport despite the protests. This position highlights the legal dilemma facing local authorities: they are caught between their commitment to allowing freedom of expression and their obligation to maintain airport operations and comply with federal mandates.

I understand that airports must operate, that flights must depart and arrive, and that security must be maintained. But when people are praying peacefully in minus twenty degrees and are arrested for trespassing, something is seriously wrong. We’ve seen people do far worse at airports without being arrested—people who shout, cause a commotion, and disrupt things far more than these praying worshippers. But when they protest against ICE, all of a sudden it’s trespassing; it’s a security threat. This selective enforcement of the law is suffocating.

The Legal Implications of the Cites

The citations for trespassing and refusal to comply issued to members of the clergy are misdemeanors that should not result in significant prison sentences, but they nonetheless set a precedent in the criminalization of peaceful religious dissent. These charges send a clear message to other groups considering acts of civil disobedience: even authorized protests can lead to arrests if they exceed the limits imposed by the authorities.

This situation raises important questions about the balance between the right to protest and the need to maintain public order, as well as the role of law enforcement in managing protests against government policies. As the protests continue, it is likely that further arrests will occur, potentially creating a cycle of confrontation between protesters and authorities that could intensify the already high tensions within the community.

When priests and pastors are arrested for peaceful prayer, we’ve lost all sense of proportion. These people aren’t threatening anyone. They aren’t breaking anything. They aren’t assaulting anyone. They’re standing there, hands clasped, in the bitter cold, to say that something is wrong. And the response is handcuffs? Cites? Criminal records? It scares me. If we can’t even pray publicly for justice without being arrested, what’s left of our freedoms? Where’s the line? When will this stop?

Section 5: The Economic and Social Impact of the Movement

Solidarity Among Businesses and Workers

The protest movement against ICE in Minnesota has generated remarkable economic solidarity, with more than seven hundred businesses closing their doors in a show of support. Kate Havelin of Indivisible Twin Cities, one of more than 100 participating organizations, said that we are making history. This wave of closures represents not only symbolic support for the protesters but also a real economic loss for the businesses involved, demonstrating how important the cause is to their owners and employees.

The closures affected all kinds of businesses, from small shops in Grand Marais near the Canadian border to the Guthrie Theater, one of Minneapolis’s most prestigious cultural institutions. This diversity of participating businesses underscores the breadth of the movement and its power to bring together economic sectors that are traditionally divided on political issues. Sam Nelson, a protester who missed work to join the march, summed up the sentiment of many: “This is my community, just like everyone else’s—I don’t want ICE on our streets.”

“When I see this wave of business closures, it moves me. These people are losing money. They’re losing customers. They’re taking a real financial risk to support a movement that may not directly concern them. That’s what true solidarity is. It’s not just a ‘like’ on Facebook or a hashtag on Twitter. It’s closing up shop and saying, ‘I’m with you.’” It means putting humanity before profit. In a world where everything is calculated, where every action is weighed in terms of return on investment, that’s pure authenticity.

The Impact on Immigrant Workers

ICE’s intensive operations in Minnesota have had devastating consequences for immigrant workers and their families, creating a climate of fear that paralyzes communities. According to unions, twelve airport workers were arrested by ICE while they were at work or on their way to work, creating a situation of constant insecurity for immigrant employees who fear they will be the next victims. This insecurity affects not only the workers themselves, but also their families and communities, who live in terror of a sudden arrest.

Employers also find themselves in a difficult position, having to balance their legal obligations with their ethical values. Some have chosen to protect their employees by refusing to cooperate with ICE agents, while others fear legal sanctions if they do not comply with federal mandates. This situation creates tension that affects the local economy and social relations, further polarizing the debate over immigration.

I’m thinking of the airport workers—these people who get up every morning to do their jobs, to provide for their families. They’re afraid now. Afraid to go to work. Afraid of being arrested just because they’re trying to make a living. How can anyone live in this constant terror? How can anyone raise their children amid such anxiety? This isn’t just a political issue—it’s a matter of humanity. These people deserve to work in peace, to return home safely, and to live without fear.

Section 6: The National and Political Dimension

The Impact Beyond Minnesota

Events in Minnesota have drawn national and international attention, reflecting broader debates on immigration and human rights in the United States. Media outlets such as CBS News, the Associated Press, and Fox News have covered the protests and arrests, highlighting the movement’s significance as an example of local resistance to the Trump administration’s federal policies. The participation of religious leaders from other states, such as Reverend Elizabeth Barish Browne from Wyoming, demonstrates that the Minnesota movement resonates beyond the state’s borders.

The Trump administration’s focus on immigration as a central issue on its political agenda has created tensions in many communities across the country, but Minnesota’s response stands out for its scale and multifaith composition. The fact that Christians, Jews, Muslims, and other religious groups are joining forces to protest ICE represents a new model of interfaith coalition that could inspire similar movements in other regions.

What’s happening in Minnesota isn’t just a local story. It’s a beacon of light for the entire country. When we see priests, pastors, rabbis, and imams, all together, hand in hand, saying no to injustice, it gives us hope. It shows that despite all the divisions imposed on us, despite all the attempts to pit us against one another, there are still things that unite us. Compassion, justice, human dignity—these have no religion. They know no borders.

Implications for the Upcoming Elections

The protests in Minnesota are taking place against a backdrop of political tension, with the midterm elections approaching and debates over immigration continuing to divide the country. The Trump administration has presented its immigration policies as necessary to secure the borders and enforce the law, while critics have called them inhumane and counterproductive. The massive response in Minnesota could influence the national debate and potentially affect election results in a traditionally swing state.

Democrats have seized the opportunity to criticize the Trump administration’s policies, highlighting the suffering caused to immigrant families and the tensions created in local communities. However, some Republicans have also expressed reservations about ICE’s aggressive approach, suggesting that reforms may be needed to balance security imperatives with humanitarian values. This debate continues to evolve as new incidents arise and protest movements grow.

Politicians from all sides tell us that it’s complicated. That immigration is complex. That we have to balance this with that. But when I see these children being arrested, when I see these mothers separated from their families, when I see these priests being arrested in twenty-degree weather, I don’t see anything complex. I just see pure cruelty. I see people who need protection and who are being attacked. Politics should be about protecting the most vulnerable, not hunting them down. If our politicians can’t understand that, then they don’t deserve their positions.

Section 7: The Future of the Resistance Movement

The Protesters’ Next Steps

As protests continue in Minnesota, organizers are seeking to maintain momentum and expand the movement to other communities and other forms of resistance. Kate Havelin of Indivisible Twin Cities emphasized that organizers believe they are making history, suggesting that the movement could evolve into more structured, long-term actions. In particular, protesters are considering targeting companies that continue to cooperate with ICE, including airlines that transport deportees.

Faith in Minnesota specifically called on Delta and Signature Aviation to take a stand against ICE operations, suggesting that pressure on private companies could be an effective way to challenge federal policies. This strategy of divestment and boycott represents an innovative approach that could be adopted by other resistance movements across the country, potentially creating a new front in the fight against restrictive immigration policies.

I feel like this is just the beginning. There’s something special about this movement. It has depth, dignity, and determination. People aren’t going to give up—not after seeing what they’ve seen, not after going through what they’ve gone through. They’ll keep going, whether it’s twenty degrees below zero or higher. They’ll keep going because they have no choice. Because when you see injustice, you can no longer remain silent. And it’s not just in Minnesota. It’s going to spread, like a flame that won’t be extinguished.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the current momentum, the movement faces several significant challenges that could affect its ability to maintain its momentum. The first challenge is protest fatigue: sustaining daily protests for several weeks requires enormous mobilization and can wear participants down, especially since Minnesota’s freezing temperatures make the protests physically grueling. The second challenge is potential repression: as arrests increase, some protesters may be deterred from continuing out of fear of legal consequences.

The third challenge is political polarization: as the movement gains visibility, it also risks provoking a backlash from supporters of anti-immigration policies, potentially creating confrontations that could divert attention from the movement’s core messages. Organizers will need to skillfully navigate these challenges to maintain the movement’s unity and cohesion while pursuing their goals.

I know it won’t be easy. I know people will grow weary, that winter will drag on, that the arrests will continue. But I also have faith. Confidence in people’s ability to stand up for justice, even when it’s hard. Confidence in the conviction of these protesters who know they are right. Because when we fight for others, when we fight for the most vulnerable, we have a strength that cannot be explained rationally. It’s a strength that comes from the heart, from the soul, and that never runs out.

Conclusion: A Turning Point for the American Consciousness

The Legacy of the Clergy Arrests

The arrest of more than 100 members of the clergy at the Minneapolis airport marks a pivotal moment in American history, echoing other times when religious leaders have stood up against injustice—from the civil rights movement to the anti-war movement. These arrests are not merely acts of civil disobedience; they are spiritual testimonies that challenge the nation to examine its conscience and reevaluate its priorities. Reverend Mariah Furness Tollgaard summed up this sentiment when she declared: “We cannot accept living under this federal occupation of Minnesota.”

The images of these religious leaders in prayer, handcuffed in the bitter cold, will remain etched in the collective memory as a symbol of moral resistance against policies that many consider contrary to the nation’s fundamental values. Like Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and other religious leaders of the civil rights movements, these Minnesota clergy members are using their faith as an instrument of social justice, reminding the nation that true morality is measured by how we treat the most vulnerable.

When I look at these photos of handcuffed priests and pastors, I can’t help but think of history. I think of all those moments when people of faith stood up against injustice—during the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and apartheid. Each time, they were told they were wrong, that they were breaking the law, that they should go home. And each time, history proved them right. That they were the ones with morality on their side. Today, it’s Minnesota’s turn. And history will remember who was on the right side.

A Call to Action for All Americans

The events in Minnesota call on all Americans, regardless of their political or religious views, to reflect on the kind of nation they want to be. The protests raise fundamental questions about American identity: Are we a nation that separates children from their parents? Are we a nation that arrests religious leaders for praying peacefully? Are we a nation that targets immigrant workers who contribute to our communities? Or are we a nation that celebrates diversity, protects the vulnerable, and honors the dignity of all human beings?

The protesters in Minnesota have chosen their answer to these questions through their courage and sacrifice. They have shown that even in the face of freezing temperatures, mass arrests, and intimidation, the spirit of resistance remains intact. They have demonstrated that faith, when put into action, becomes a powerful force for change. Now it is up to the rest of the nation to answer their call and decide what legacy it wants to leave for future generations.

I look at what’s happening in Minnesota and I think to myself: if these people can stand up in twenty-degree weather, if these priests and pastors can get arrested for the sake of justice, then what’s stopping us from doing something? We don’t need to go out and protest; we don’t need to get arrested. We just need to say that this is unacceptable. We just need to talk to our neighbors, our coworkers, and our families. Just refuse to accept that this is normal. Because it’s not normal. It never has been, and it never will be. And it’s up to us—all of us—to say so. Now. Before it’s too late.

Sources

Primary Sources

Faith in Minnesota – Statement on the arrests at MSP Airport – January 23, 2026

Just The News – Minnesota faith group says more than 100 clergy members were arrested at the airport during an anti-ICE protest – January 23, 2026

CBS News Minnesota – Clergy members arrested at MSP while protesting ICE in Minneapolis – January 23, 2026

Associated Press – Thousands Rally Against Immigration Enforcement in Subzero Minnesota Temperatures – January 23, 2026

Secondary Sources

Fox News – Anti-ICE protesters arrested at Minneapolis airport during demonstration – January 23, 2026

KARE 11 – Around 100 detained in ICE protests outside MSP Airport – January 23, 2026

Político – Thousands rally against immigration enforcement in subzero Minnesota temperatures – January 23, 2026

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