Federal authorities have arrested three of the people connected to an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a church service on Sunday in St. Paul.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday morning that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and FBI agents arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights attorney who helped organize the protest.
Minutes later, Bondi announced Chauntyll Louisa Allen was also arrested. She’s listed as the clerk of the St. Paul Board of Education.
RELATED: Church consulting legal counsel after Sunday service disrupted by protestors
“Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP,” Bondi wrote on social media.
UPDATE: A second arrest has been made at my direction. Chauntyll Louisa Allen has been taken into custody.
More to come.
WE WILL PROTECT OUR HOUSES OF WORSHIP 🙏🏻
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 22, 2026
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem later announced Thursday afternoon that William Kelly was arrested and would be charged with “conspiracy to deprive rights.”
William Kelly is being charged with conspiracy to deprive rights, a federal crime, and violating the FACE act 18 USC 248 for his involvement in the St. Paul church riots. pic.twitter.com/IlktEkhu7b
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 22, 2026
A magistrate judge on Thursday ordered the release of both Levy Armstrong and Allen and did not grant requests for detention hearings.
The protest happened at Cities Church on Summit Avenue on Sunday, as roughly 30 to 40 protesters walked into the church during service at around 10:40 a.m. in protest of a pastor at the church who is also believed to serve as a local ICE official.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS spoke to Levy Armstrong the day after the protest, and she said the goal was to have a dialogue with church leaders about the impact of ICE.
“People have been saying we shouldn’t protest. They always think there’s no time or place or location that is appropriate for using our voices,” Levy Armstrong said.
RELATED: DOJ investigating anti-ICE protest at St. Paul church
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its intent to investigate the protest, and Noem says Levy Armstrong is being charged with violating 18 USC 241, the “conspiracy against rights” section of the Constitution, which makes it a crime for a group to conspire to hurt or intimidate anyone exercising their rights — in this case, practicing a religion.
“What occurred was not protest; it was lawless harassment,” the North American Mission Board, which is associated with the church, said in a statement. Others say the protest is protected by free speech.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS is working to confirm more details. Follow KSTP-TV for the latest updates.
Cities Church in St. Paul (KSTP)
