Editorial: Like day care centers, churches should be removed from our current immigration crisis

The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune on Jan 22, 2026

Published in Op Eds

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We’ve reached the point in America’s polarization story where not even churches are sacred spaces.

Protesters angry about the fatal shooting of Renee Good and the increased presence of federal agents in the Minneapolis area crossed a line when they entered Cities Church in St. Paul and disrupted Sunday worship.

Videos posted online show scenes of a mob of people marching into the church, angrily expressing their frustration over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement activity.

Children are present who look visibly afraid, and of course they do — a group of adult strangers has entered their place of sanctuary, yelling and screaming at them and their parents, as well as confronting the pastor, Jonathan Parnell, who appears to do his best to remain calm and ensure the safety of his parishioners. Churchgoers can be seen either fleeing the sanctuary, sitting frozen in their seats or trying to reason with the intruders.

Protesters alleged one of the church’s pastors — not Parnell — has ties to immigration enforcement. Regardless, that doesn’t give anyone the right to invade a worship service. It’s up to the church to decide who leads them.

If the protesters who showed up at Cities Church had set up outside, fine, so long as they weren’t preventing people from getting to church. If they had posted up around the corner, all good. But to enter the church, berate peaceful worshipers and scare children crosses a line.

The First Amendment robustly protects protests and political speech, but it does not grant the right to commandeer private property or disrupt lawful assemblies. Courts have long recognized that religious worship is entitled to protection, and both state and federal law prohibit intentional interference with a congregation’s ability to practice its faith.

If you’re tempted to reflexively respond “yes, but one of the pastors works for ICE in some capacity,” you may also be surprised to learn that you also can’t break into his house because you dislike his actions.

The Department of Justice is investigating the incident, and a St. Paul Police spokesperson said in a statement that they are “actively investigating this incident as a disorderly conduct investigation,” according to ABC News.

We’ve written before that some places should be off limits. We were outraged that federal authorities chased one of their quarry inside a day care center in Chicago, alarming kids. Churches are in the same category. That’s why we were appalled when the Trump administration rolled back long-standing guidance discouraging immigration arrests in sensitive locations such as churches. And it’s why we’re alarmed now.

We don’t pretend to know how higher powers feel about immigration enforcement. But we do know this: If you find yourself storming a church filled with people who are peacefully practicing their religion, you are not in the right.

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