Full Breakdown
Federal Surveillance of Minneapolis Church Sparks Contempt Hearing
8/25/2026, 12:47:40 AM
Legal Background and Injunction
In February, U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV issued a preliminary injunction blocking a Trump-administration policy that allowed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to conduct arrests inside places of worship. The injunction designated University Baptist Church in Minneapolis as a “protected area” where immigration enforcement is prohibited.
Details of the Surveillance Operations
Court filings reveal that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), ICE’s investigative arm, launched “Operation Puppet Master” on January 28. The operation targeted protesters in Minneapolis after the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
- May 28: An undercover HSI agent attended a self-defense class described as a “left-wing martial arts group” in the University Baptist Church gymnasium, recording the session with a concealed body-worn audio device.
- April and May: Agents photographed congregants and ran license-plate checks for several hours on two Sundays.
- June 11: Documents allege agents were inside the church again, conducting surveillance after the earlier incidents.
Church Leaders’ Response
Former University Baptist Church president Jean E. Rev. Jennifer Crow** of First Universalist Church Minneapolis echoed similar concerns, asserting that the monitoring infringes on basic religious freedom.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We have been shocked and upset to discover that DHS not only has been watching people coming and going from the church and not only has been doing so on Sundays, but has even entered the church building itself in order to make recordings and surveil people inside,” — Jean E. Lubke, former church president
- “We're trying to practice our very basic religious freedom,” — Crow. She
- “We're not surprised, but we weren't aware of it until these files were released,” — Movement. Rev. Jennifer Crow, of First Universalist Church Minneapolis
- “This clarifies for us the importance of living our faith out loud,” — Movement. Rev. Jennifer Crow, of First Universalist Church Minneapolis
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Government vs. Plaintiffs: The government contends the surveillance did not constitute immigration enforcement and therefore did not breach the injunction. Church groups argue that any unauthorized entry into a protected area violates the court order, regardless of the operation’s label.
- Timeline Ambiguities: Filings note surveillance on “two Sundays in April” and an incident on May 28, yet the court documents also allege activity as late as June 11. The precise dates of each intrusion are not fully detailed, leaving uncertainty about the full scope of the alleged violations.
What’s Next
Judge Saylor scheduled a hearing for next month to consider a contempt motion against the administration. The government must file a response by August 28. The outcome will determine whether the administration faces contempt sanctions for allegedly breaching the preliminary injunction.
