Outpoll | Journalist Don Lemon Detained While Documenting ICE Protest at Minneapolis Church

Politicscourts & investigations

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was taken into custody on Thursday, January 30, 2026, while reporting on a demonstration against an intensified Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minneapolis. The incident occurred at a local church that had become a focal point for community protest.Legal and press freedom organizations swiftly condemned the detention, characterizing it as an alarming obstruction of journalistic work. Although the precise charges are not yet public, the event has ignited a fierce debate over First Amendment protections for reporters covering civil unrest.The protests themselves are a response to a major federal immigration enforcement surge in the city, a policy championed by the Trump administration that has sparked widespread local opposition. Democratic officials and media advocates warn the arrest signals a dangerous trend of press intimidation, while some conservative commentators argue it was a justified action to maintain public order. The case is poised to become a significant legal test concerning the rights and risks faced by journalists documenting acts of political dissent.

#Don Lemon

#Arrest

#ICE

#Protest

#Minneapolis

#Journalism

#First Amendment

#editorial picks