Clergy Arrested Protesting ICE at MSP Airport Share Powerful Story

Three faith leaders describe their experience of being arrested during an airport protest as "holy" and a calling to stand up for immigrants.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 4:47pm

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Nearly two weeks after 99 clergy members were arrested and charged during a protest at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, three faith leaders - Rev. Katherine Lewis, Rev. Daniel Ruth, and Rev. Amanda Lunemann - sat down to share their story. They each felt a calling from their faith to participate in the protest against ICE, despite the risks, describing the experience as "holy" and a concrete way to stand up for their immigrant neighbors.

Why it matters

This story highlights the growing role of faith leaders in social justice movements, as they feel compelled by their religious beliefs to take direct action against policies and practices they see as unjust or inhumane. The protest at the Minneapolis airport was part of a broader surge of activism by clergy members across the country speaking out against the treatment of immigrants.

The details

The three clergy members were among 99 people arrested during the protest at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where they gathered to demonstrate against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Despite the risks of arrest and the cold weather, the faith leaders say they felt a deep spiritual calling to participate, driven by their belief in the inherent dignity of all people and a rejection of policies that target immigrants. They described the experience as "holy" and "mystical" in nature, with a sense of rightness and stillness amidst the larger protest.

  • The protest and arrests took place nearly two weeks ago, on February 5, 2026.
  • The three clergy members sat down to share their story this week.

The players

Rev. Katherine Lewis

A pastor at St. David's Episcopal Church in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Rev. Daniel Ruth

The executive director of Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry.

Rev. Amanda Lunemann

A pastor at Grace United Methodist Church in Burnsville, Minnesota.

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What they’re saying

“Part of being a faith leader is trying to get at what is true. The sort of underlying assumption of the whole surge is that immigrants are criminals and immigrants and dangerous. I don't think the facts bear that out.”

— Rev. Daniel Ruth, Executive Director, Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry

“To show up, to put your body on the line, is not something you should do out of bravado, it should be a call. This is not how we treat human beings. We don't do that. We're not going to do that. We're going to stand up for a different story.”

— Rev. Amanda Lunemann, Pastor, Grace United Methodist Church

“Fundamental to our faith is the beautiful diversity of creation. It's foundational in the Judeo-Christian story from the get-go, diversity was just the part of the deal. That's beautiful, and God called it good in the story of creation.”

— Rev. Katherine Lewis, Pastor, St. David's Episcopal Church

What’s next

The three clergy members plan to continue advocating for immigrant rights and speaking out against policies they see as unjust, though the specific next steps are not detailed.

The takeaway

This story underscores the growing role of faith leaders in social justice movements, as they feel compelled by their religious beliefs to take direct action in defense of vulnerable communities. The clergy members' description of the protest as "holy" and "mystical" highlights the deep spiritual conviction behind their activism, which they see as a fundamental part of their calling as religious leaders.