Police arrest woman disrupting easter services in st. paul, amid tensions over pastor's immigration role

On easter Sunday, police in St. Paul, Minnesota, arrested a woman for disrupting services at Cities Church, a site of previous anti-immigration protests.

Church tensions continue amid ice director's presence

The arrest came amid ongoing tensions at the church, where Pastor David Easterwood serves as the acting field director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in St. Paul.

According to police, several officers were on contracted overtime Sunday morning when a group of protesters used a blowhorn and yelled loudly, disrupting the service. After numerous announcements from officers threatening possible citations and arrests, all but one protester complied and left peacefully.

The woman who remained was arrested for interference with religious observance, police said.

This is the latest incident in a contentious saga that began January 18 when protesters and journalists entered the church during services in protest of Easterwood's role with ICE. Following that event, dozens of demonstrators, including former CNN host Don Lemon, were charged with violating the FACE Act for allegedly intimidating worshippers.

Legal experts have questioned the charges, citing a lack of precedent tying the FACE Act to protecting religious practice.