The White House sharply criticised Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Monday, asserting that their rhetoric and actions have helped fuel unrest that culminated in a group of anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protesters entering and disrupting a church service in St. Paul.

The incident at Cities Church on Sunday, in which demonstrators interrupted worship and chanted accusations against the pastor over alleged ICE ties, drew condemnation from national officials concerned about erosion of public order and interference with religious freedom.

The White House spokeswoman characterised the disruption as the latest instance of what she termed “radical leftist” behaviour and claimed that comments by Walz and Frey had incited chaos rather than calm amid ongoing immigration enforcement operations.

Local police were not visibly present during the service, and footage shared on social media showed protesters inside the sanctuary shouting slogans before the gathering was forced to end early.

Protesters have said they targeted the pastor because they believed he was affiliated with ICE, but the pastor was not present at the time.

The protests in Minneapolis and St. Paul have been intensifying since a federal ICE operation known as Operation Metro Surge began in December, resulting in thousands of arrests and heightened tensions over immigration enforcement.

Earlier clashes between demonstrators and federal agents followed the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer on January 7, amplifying calls from local leaders for accountability and restraint.

Both Walz and Frey have publicly criticised the federal deployment, with the mayor at times urging protesters to remain peaceful.

Federal authorities, citing public safety concerns, have launched a Justice Department investigation into whether Walz and Frey impeded federal immigration enforcement through their statements, a move local officials have described as politically motivated.

In response to the church disruption, the Department of Justice has said it will evaluate potential civil rights violations related to interference with religious worship, and local Christian leaders have called for sanctuary protections for congregants.

The incident underscores deepening divisions between state and municipal leadership and the federal government over immigration policy and enforcement tactics, with both sides facing legal challenges, public protests and national scrutiny.

As tensions continue, Minnesota officials have urged restraint and peaceful protest, even as federal authorities assert their intention to enforce immigration laws robustly across the Twin Cities region.