Judges Reject DOJ Request to Detain Leftist Protesters Accused of Invading Minnesota Church

Two judges blocked requests from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to detain three of the leftist protesters accused of invading a Minnesota church.

According to NBC News, U.S. District Judge Laura M. Provinzino issued an order regarding Nekima Valdez Levy-Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, while a “federal magistrate judge” ordered William Scott Kelly, another protester, be released.

Judge Provinzino claimed that DOJ lawyers did not “demonstrate that a detention hearing is warranted, or that detention is otherwise appropriate.”:

U.S. District Judge Laura M. Provinzino wrote in her order for two of the protesters, Nekima Valdez Levy-Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, that Justice Department lawyers failed to “demonstrate that a detention hearing is warranted, or that detention is otherwise appropriate.”

The judge found the Trump administration offered “no factual or legal support” to support their contention that this was a “crime of violence.” The third protester, William Scott Kelly, was separately ordered released by a federal magistrate judge.

Armstrong, Allen, and Kelly were charged by criminal complaint in a case that involves an unknown number of defendants. Because not all the defendants are in custody, the criminal affidavit, a sworn statement by an officer used to establish cause for an arrest, is redacted. The case cites the FACE Act, a federal statute that has historically been used to protect reproductive facilities, but also contains provisions that cover houses of worship.

JUST IN: A judge in Minnesota said DOJ failed to make its case to detain two of the church protesters charged with FACE Act violations. https://t.co/w49VoTd9HP pic.twitter.com/iN7ccjsYKS

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) January 23, 2026

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