Nekima Levy Armstrong was arrested after organising an anti–immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul on Thursday. The protest took place at Cities Church, which is led by a pastor who also works as a local official with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Protesters entered the church during Sunday worship, drawing strong reactions from authorities.
Who is Nekima Levy Armstrong?
Nekima Levy Armstrong is a well-known civil rights activist based in Minnesota. She has been active for years in protests and movements related to racial justice and policing. In the past, she helped organise demonstrations after the killings of George Floyd, Philando Castile, and Jamar Clark.
She has also served as the president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP, making her a familiar public figure in the Twin Cities area.
What did the US government say?
US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the arrest in a post on X, saying Armstrong was taken into custody days after the church incident.
The arrest comes just ahead of a scheduled visit to Minnesota by Vice President JD Vance, adding political attention to the situation.
What is happening with ICE in Minnesota?
Immigration enforcement has sharply increased in Minnesota in recent months. Under directives linked to the Trump administration, ICE has expanded deportation operations, especially in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. The focus has been on people with existing deportation orders, including Somali immigrants and others suspected of being in the US unlawfully.
Enforcement activity began rising in late 2025 and increased in December. By early January 2026, more than 150 people were detained in the Twin Cities area. The Department of Homeland Security later said around 3,000 arrests were made under what it calls “Operation Metro Surge,” with nearly 10,000 ICE arrests across Minnesota over the past year.
Several recent cases have increased public anger. Earlier this month, ICE detained four children, including a five-year-old, from a local school district. In another case, a Mexican man suffered life-threatening injuries after an arrest on January 8. There has also been outrage after the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer.