Todd Blanche blames Tim Walz and Dem rhetoric for anti-ICE mob storming church in Minnesota

WASHINGTON, DC: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz after a group of demonstrators protesting against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stormed a church service in St Paul on Sunday, January 18.

Blasting the protesters, Blanche called the action a crime deserving prison time and blamed Walz’s rhetoric for encouraging the disruption.

Todd Blanche hammers Tim Walz over anti-ICE protest in church

During Fox News’ 'The Will Cain Show' on January 19, Blanche expressed frustration with Walz and the Democratic rhetoric about the protest at a St Paul church by anti‑ICE demonstrators.

Blanche hit out at the response that the protest got. "The governor [Tim Walz] just throws his hands up and says, 'Oh I've always said, you should peacefully protest'. That is just completely made up," he said.

"You can listen to what that man has been saying for the past three weeks," Blanche said, referring to anti-ICE rhetoric that Walz has rattled off recently.

He also blamed Walz for the protest’s escalation, saying, "He has not been encouraging people to peacefully protest. He's been encouraging people to do exactly what they did and what happened yesterday is a consequence of the governor's words."

Deputy AG slams 'anti-Christian' protesters

Blanche confirmed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating the people that stormed into the Cities Church. 

He labelled these protesters as "anti-Christian" and anti-law enforcement".

He criticized how the anti‑ICE protests disrupted worship, saying, "Every single American should be enraged and heartbroken, and what happened yesterday in that church. People are going to worship and they are being stormed by anti law enforcement, anti christian rioters."

Blanche implied the protesters violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

This federal law prohibits the use of force, threats or physical obstruction to interfere with people entering reproductive health clinics, such as those offering abortions. It also includes provisions against obstruction from entering places of worship.

"You know why that law was passed, and we're going to use it for the reasons that it was meant to be used for, which is to stop this type of conduct again," he said.

When asked what kind of punishment the alleged culprits would face, Blanche said "Well, it's a crime, and so they will face a jury. If they're convicted, they will go to prison." 

What happened in St Paul church?

A Sunday, January 19, morning church service in the Twin Cities was disrupted when anti‑Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protesters walked into Cities Church in St Paul during worship.

Dozens of demonstrators entered the building and confronted worshippers, video shared online shows.

The St Paul Police Department responded after receiving calls about up to 40 protesters inside the church. Protesters chanted “ICE out!” as the lead pastor and members of the congregation reacted.

The demonstrators said they were there to protest David Easterwood, a pastor at Cities Church who also appears to serve as the acting director of ICE’s field office in St Paul. Some protesters linked his role to the agency’s enforcement actions, including the fatal shooting of Renee Good earlier this month.

AG Harmeet Dhillon reacts to church protest

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, announced a federal investigation within hours, calling the protesters’ actions “desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers."

Attorney General Pam Bondi also addressed the incident, posting to X late Sunday, January 19, night, “Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law."

In explaining the investigation, Dhillon cited the FACE Act, a federal law that “prohibits the use or threat of force and physical obstruction that injures, intimidates, or interferes with a person seeking to … exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship."