St. Paul Cities Church protest case: federal charges challenged in new bid to dismiss

St. Paul defense lawyers filed a bid to dismiss federal criminal charges tied to an anti-ICE protest at Cities Church on Sunday, Jan. 18.

The June 24 motion asks a federal judge to throw out the indictment, arguing that the government’s allegations don’t match the legal requirements of the statutes prosecutors say were violated. It’s a procedural challenge—not a ruling yet.

What federal prosecutors say happened at Cities Church

According to U.S. Department of Justice case information, the church’s pastor was leading a liturgical service at about 10:30 a.m. when prosecutors say a group of approximately 40 “agitators” entered the church in a coordinated “takeover-style” attack.

DOJ says the defendants’ alleged conduct included oppression, intimidation, threats, interference, and physical obstruction. DOJ also says the pastor and congregation were forced to terminate the service and congregants fled out of fear for their safety.

The federal charges in the indictment

The DOJ case information lists two counts:

• Conspiracy against the right of religious freedom at a place of worship (18 U.S.C. § 241).
• Injure, intimidate, and interfere with the exercise of the right of religious freedom at a place of worship (18 U.S.C. § 248(a)(2), (b) and § 2(a)).

What the June 24 motion to dismiss is asking the judge to do

Reporting from the Minnesota Star Tribune says lawyers representing 33 protesters filed a joint court filing supporting dismissal.

In their motion, attorneys argue the conduct alleged in the indictment does not rise to the level of crimes the Justice Department says it supports. Star Tribune also reports the motion says the intent behind the defendants’ actions was to protest ICE policies—not to harm church members or intimidate them in their exercise of religion.

Why this is playing out in federal court

The Star Tribune also points to a key local context: the St. Paul City Attorney’s Office declined to file charges tied to the demonstration, saying it did not have sufficient evidence to pursue a case. With local charges declined, the federal case remains the main track for resolving the allegations tied to the disruption.

What happens next (and what to watch)

A motion to dismiss is the next step in testing whether an indictment can stand under the charged statutes. For residents who attended, worked nearby, or organized around similar protests, the filing is also a reminder that federal prosecutors may pursue case-specific theories of interference and intimidation tied to religious-freedom statutes.

At a high level, the case will proceed based on how the court responds to the legal arguments in the defense motion—so the timing and outcome of any next court decisions are the key things to watch.

Sources

• U.S. DOJ — Cities Church case information (District of Minnesota)
• Minnesota Star Tribune — Anti-ICE protest at Cities Church: motion to dismiss reported June 24
• MPR News — Federal charges tied to ICE surge protests (episode dated June 16, 2026)