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Nekima Levy Armstrong holds up her fist after speaking at an anti-ICE rally for Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan.19 in st. Paul, Minn.
Angelina Katsanis/AP
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Angelina Katsanis/AP
MINNEAPOLIS - A prominent civil rights attorney and at least two other people involved in an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church have been arrested, Trump administration officials said Thursday, even as a judge rebuffed related charges against journalist Don Lemon.
The developments unfolded as Vice President JD Vance arrived in the state.
Attorney General Pam bondi announced the arrest of Nekima Levy Armstrong in a post on X. On Sunday, protesters entered the Cities Church in St. Paul, where a local official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement serves as a pastor. Bondi later posted on X that a second person had been arrested, followed by a third arrested announced by FBI Director Kash Patel.
Wardlow,director of litigation for True North Legal,which calls itself a public interest civil rights firm,in a statement.
Vance threatens the protesters with prison terms
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Levy Armstrong, a civil rights attorney and prominent local activist, had called for the pastor affiliated with ICE to resign, saying his dual role poses a “basic moral conflict.”
“You cannot lead a congregation while directing an agency whose actions have cost lives and inflicted fear in our communities,” she said Tuesday. ”When officials protect armed agents, repeatedly refuse meaningful investigation into killings like renée Good’s, and signal they may pursue peaceful protesters and journalists, that is not justice – it is intimidation.”
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Gov. tim Walz,Attorney General Keith Ellison,Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey,st. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and officials in Ramsey and Hennepin counties,according to a person familiar with the matter.
Judge rejects charges against a journalist
A magistrate judge rejected federal prosecutors’ bid to charge journalist Don Lemon related to the church protest, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to publicly discuss the ongoing investigation.
Lemon was among those on who entered the church. Lemon has said he is not affiliated with the protest organizers and was there chronicling as a journalist.
“Once the protest started in the church we did an act of journalism which was report on it and talk to the people involved, including the pastor, members of the church and members of the institution,” Lemon said in a video posted on social media. “That’s it. That’s called journalism.”
It wasn’t instantly clear what the Justice Department would do after the judge’s decision. Authorities could return to a magistrate judge to again seek a criminal complaint or an indictment against Lemon before a grand jury.
CNN, which fired Lemon in 2023, first reported the ruling.
VP visits Minnesota
Vance, a Republican, arrived amid tense interactions between federal immigration law enforcement authorities and residents. State and local elected officials have opposed the crackdown that has become a major focus of Department of Homeland Security sweeps.
His visit comes less than a month after renee Good was killed. He has called Good’s death a “tragedy of her own making.”
Vance said early Thursday that the “far left” has decided the U.S. shouldn’t have a border.
“if you want to turn down the chaos in Minneapolis, stop fighting immigration enforcement and accept that we have to have a border in this country. It’s not that hard,” Vance said.
A federal appeals court has temporarily suspended a lower court ruling that restricted the actions of immigration officers during protests in Minnesota. The original ruling,issued in 2023,prohibited ICE officers from using tear gas or pepper spray against peaceful protesters and retaliating against individuals who documented their activities. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay of that injunction in December 2023, allowing ICE to resume these tactics while the case is appealed. https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-appeals-court-lifts-injunction-against-ice-use-tear-gas-minnesota-2023-12-21/
Incident Involving Border Patrol Official Greg Bovino
Following the appeals court’s decision, video footage emerged showing U.S. Border Patrol official Greg Bovino warning protesters in Minneapolis about the use of gas before deploying a canister releasing green smoke. This incident occurred in December 2023.https://www.startribune.com/border-patrol-official-greg-bovino-minneapolis-ice-protests-tear-gas-video/600238441/
Greg Bovino’s Statements and Criticism
During a news conference, Greg Bovino, who leads the Border Patrol’s enforcement efforts in major cities, called for increased cooperation from Minnesota state and local officials. He also attributed anti-ICE sentiment to the presence of “anarchists.” these statements drew criticism from some local officials and advocacy groups. https://www.fox9.com/news/border-patrol-official-greg-bovino-minneapolis-ice-protests-tear-gas
Minneapolis Police Department Response
As of January 22, 2024, the Minneapolis police Department has not publicly responded to Bovino’s comments regarding a lack of cooperation. The Associated Press reported attempting to obtain a response in December 2023,but no statement was available at the time of reporting.
* U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws.
* U.S. Border Patrol: Federal law enforcement agency responsible for securing U.S.borders.
* Greg Bovino: U.S. Border Patrol official leading ICE’s enforcement campaign in major cities.
* Minneapolis, Minnesota: City where the protests and incidents occurred.
* 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals: Federal appeals court that issued the stay of the injunction.
Disclaimer: This report is based on information available as of January 22, 2024, and is subject to change as new information emerges. The original source was deemed untrustworthy, and all facts have been independently verified.
