Don Lemon's Arrest at Minnesota Church Protest Sparks Controversy

Sat Jan 31 2026 17:29:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Former CNN host Don Lemon was arrested for filming anti-ICE protests in a Minnesota church. His lawyer states that Lemon's actions were lawful journalism, while the federal government pursues charges against him.

Don Lemon, the former CNN host, was arrested for participating in a protest against ICE during a church service in Minnesota. Arrested by federal agents, Lemon's lawyer asserts that his actions were protected by the First Amendment. The protests have become a focal point amid ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement. Legal challenges following the protests have led to a reduced number of charges against participants, igniting debates about freedom of the press and the state of civil rights.

Don Lemon's Arrest at Minnesota Church Protest Sparks Controversy

Former CNN host Don Lemon has been arrested after he entered a Minnesota church and filmed anti-immigration enforcement protesters as they disrupted a service.

Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents on Thursday night while in Los Angeles covering the Grammy Awards, according to a statement from his lawyer Abbe Lowell.

Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court, the attorney said.

Lemon went into the Cities Church in St Paul on January 19 with a group of protesters who alleged that one of the pastors was an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official.

In a defense statement, Lowell insisted, This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand.

Lemon commented on his actions, stating, Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism, which was report on it.

Initially, the Trump administration sought to charge eight individuals linked to the protest, referencing laws designed to protect activities within places of worship. However, a magistrate judge approved charges for only three, notably excluding Lemon. An appeal to challenge this decision was also rejected.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi previously characterized the protests as horrific. In response, Harmeet Dhillon from the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division vowed, We're going to pursue this to the ends of the Earth.

The protests came amid an uptick in tensions in Minnesota, where federal immigration operations have allegedly resulted in fatalities. Jim Acosta, another CNN journalist, condemned Lemon's arrest as an outrageous attack on the First Amendment.