According to NBC News, former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents on January 30, 2026, in Los Angeles in connection with an anti-ICE protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota. The protest, which took place on January 18 at Cities Church, disrupted a Sunday service and targeted the church over alleged ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Authorities say Lemon’s presence and actions at the protest went beyond reporting, and federal prosecutors have charged him with violating laws related to civil rights and interference with religious worship. This arrest follows a previous attempt to charge Lemon, which was initially rejected by a federal judge for lack of probable cause.
Lemon and his attorney, Abbe Lowell, maintain that he was acting as a journalist, documenting the protest, and invoking First Amendment protections. Civil liberties groups and news organizations are raising concerns about the implications for press freedom, noting the unusual nature of a journalist being federally arrested for covering a protest.
The case has sparked debate over the boundaries of protest, the role of journalists, and federal enforcement powers, highlighting tensions between immigration activism and religious rights.
Federal authorities have not announced a court date, but Lemon’s arrest is expected to draw national attention as the story develops.
