Grand jury challenge and not‑guilty pleas in St. Paul anti‑ICE church protest case
In the federal case over the Cities Church anti‑ICE protest in St. Paul, five defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of interfering with access to religious services and were ordered to stay away from the church, while charges against a separate defendant were dropped. Photojournalist Shane Bollman has filed a motion seeking grand jury materials, arguing the indictments may have been influenced by public statements and actions from the Trump administration and raising press‑freedom and political‑influence concerns; a ruling on that motion was expected by March 27.
📌 Key Facts
- Five defendants in the Cities Church anti‑ICE protest made their first federal court appearance Wednesday and all pleaded not guilty to federal charges of interfering with access to religious services.
- The judge imposed conditions barring the defendants from going near Cities Church while the case proceeds.
- Photojournalist defendant Shane Bollman filed a March 24 motion seeking disclosure of all grand jury materials, arguing the indictments may have been influenced by public statements and actions by President Trump and his administration.
- Bollman's motion contends the grand jury's probable‑cause finding may rest on "inaccurate or misleading" government representations; a decision on the motion was expected by March 27.
- Bollman and his attorney assert he was present as a working member of the media, not a protester, and are framing the case as raising press‑freedom and political‑influence questions.
📊 Relevant Data
David Easterwood serves as both a pastor at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the acting field office director for ICE in the region.
Who Is David Easterwood? Protesters Say Pastor Is ICE Official — Newsweek
In December 2025, the Trump administration launched an intensive ICE enforcement operation primarily targeting hundreds of undocumented Somali migrants in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.
New ICE Operation Is Said to Target Somali Migrants in Twin Cities — The New York Times
Somalis accounted for 6.1% of all convictions in Minnesota in 2023, while comprising only about 2% of the state's population, indicating a per capita conviction rate approximately three times higher than the state average; for violent crimes, Somalis were convicted in 9.2% of murders, 8.7% of aggravated assaults, and 7.4% of robberies.
Yes, Somali Immigrants Commit More Crime Than Natives — City Journal
The majority of Somalis in Minnesota arrived as refugees fleeing the civil war in Somalia starting in the 1990s, resettled through U.S. refugee programs and voluntary agencies such as Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities.
How Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants in the U.S. — NPR
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Five defendants in the Cities Church anti‑ICE protest made their first federal court appearance Wednesday and all entered not‑guilty pleas to charges of interfering with access to religious services.
- The judge imposed conditions barring these defendants from going near Cities Church while the case proceeds.
- Defendant and photojournalist Shane Bollman filed a March 24 motion seeking disclosure of all grand jury materials, arguing the indictments may have been influenced by public statements and actions by President Trump and his administration.
- Bollman’s motion quotes a concern that the grand jury’s probable‑cause finding may rest on "inaccurate or misleading" government representations, and a decision on the motion is expected by March 27.
- Bollman and his attorney assert he was present as a working member of the media, not a protester, and are positioning the case as raising press‑freedom and political‑influence questions.