Jack Jenkins
@jackjenkins.me
National Reporter for Religion News Service. "Workaday writer." — The New Yorker. Author of "American Prophets," a book on the religious left. Tips? Try me on Signal: jackmjenkins.60 Website: jackjenkins.me
1. New: In a post published on their website (part of which is screenshoted below), Park Ave United Methodist Church in Mineapolis — which is a block from where Renee Good was killed — say that "several Park Ave pastors and staff were among those who were pepper-bombed" by ICE agents yesterday.
January 15, 2026 at 9:40 PM
1. New: In a post published on their website (part of which is screenshoted below), Park Ave United Methodist Church in Mineapolis — which is a block from where Renee Good was killed — say that "several Park Ave pastors and staff were among those who were pepper-bombed" by ICE agents yesterday.
A big thing that was intensely evident while I was reporting this piece:
In parts of Minneapolis, DHS/ICE is everywhere.
And so, too, are the volunteers pushing back against them — standing on virtually every street corner.
In parts of Minneapolis, DHS/ICE is everywhere.
And so, too, are the volunteers pushing back against them — standing on virtually every street corner.
January 14, 2026 at 11:55 PM
A big thing that was intensely evident while I was reporting this piece:
In parts of Minneapolis, DHS/ICE is everywhere.
And so, too, are the volunteers pushing back against them — standing on virtually every street corner.
In parts of Minneapolis, DHS/ICE is everywhere.
And so, too, are the volunteers pushing back against them — standing on virtually every street corner.
Unexpected development: after this vigil, a trio of UCC pastors approached Whipple to offer pastoral care to detainees.
They were allowed in (as was I), but were ultimately denied access to the detainees.
A representative told them: “not at this time,” offering a number to call.
They were allowed in (as was I), but were ultimately denied access to the detainees.
A representative told them: “not at this time,” offering a number to call.
January 13, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Unexpected development: after this vigil, a trio of UCC pastors approached Whipple to offer pastoral care to detainees.
They were allowed in (as was I), but were ultimately denied access to the detainees.
A representative told them: “not at this time,” offering a number to call.
They were allowed in (as was I), but were ultimately denied access to the detainees.
A representative told them: “not at this time,” offering a number to call.
Weird thing just now: as someone drove into the Whipple building (DHS agents come in and out all the time, but unclear who this was), the driver pointed an object out the window at the vigil as folks were praying that made…a shrill beeping noise?
January 13, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Weird thing just now: as someone drove into the Whipple building (DHS agents come in and out all the time, but unclear who this was), the driver pointed an object out the window at the vigil as folks were praying that made…a shrill beeping noise?
At a faith-led vigil outside of the Whipple federal building in St. Paul this morning, where dozens of religious leaders and people of faith have gathered.
Organizers say the monthly vigil actually dates back to 2018, but it’s taken on additional meaning for participants after Renee’s shooting.
Organizers say the monthly vigil actually dates back to 2018, but it’s taken on additional meaning for participants after Renee’s shooting.
January 13, 2026 at 1:40 PM
At a faith-led vigil outside of the Whipple federal building in St. Paul this morning, where dozens of religious leaders and people of faith have gathered.
Organizers say the monthly vigil actually dates back to 2018, but it’s taken on additional meaning for participants after Renee’s shooting.
Organizers say the monthly vigil actually dates back to 2018, but it’s taken on additional meaning for participants after Renee’s shooting.
Note: This big Minnesota lawsuit includes a whole religious sub-narrative for one of the plaintiffs:
January 12, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Note: This big Minnesota lawsuit includes a whole religious sub-narrative for one of the plaintiffs:
Some other photos of this same incident:
January 12, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Some other photos of this same incident:
Also lol: religion reporting, 2026.
January 12, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Also lol: religion reporting, 2026.
Just ran down here to try to catch this protester, and instead arrived just in time to see DHS agents fire pepper balls, pepper spray and some sort of flash-bang-in-the-air thing at protesters.
They also arrested a guy in a leopard suit.
They also arrested a guy in a leopard suit.
January 12, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Just ran down here to try to catch this protester, and instead arrived just in time to see DHS agents fire pepper balls, pepper spray and some sort of flash-bang-in-the-air thing at protesters.
They also arrested a guy in a leopard suit.
They also arrested a guy in a leopard suit.
Per livestream, it appears barricades are being built around the Whipple building in MN, a fixture of anti-ICE protests.
It resembles actions take at the Broadview DHS facility in IL.
One protester holds a sign referencing Bishop Whipple, the building's namesake. www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6_j...
It resembles actions take at the Broadview DHS facility in IL.
One protester holds a sign referencing Bishop Whipple, the building's namesake. www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6_j...
January 12, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Per livestream, it appears barricades are being built around the Whipple building in MN, a fixture of anti-ICE protests.
It resembles actions take at the Broadview DHS facility in IL.
One protester holds a sign referencing Bishop Whipple, the building's namesake. www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6_j...
It resembles actions take at the Broadview DHS facility in IL.
One protester holds a sign referencing Bishop Whipple, the building's namesake. www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6_j...
Ah: a column of cars just drove by in the street *immediately* in front of the column, with several honking and blowing whistles.
That’s usually observers following ICE vehicles and alerting people.
I missed them, but you may be able to hear honking in the distance.
That’s usually observers following ICE vehicles and alerting people.
I missed them, but you may be able to hear honking in the distance.
January 11, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Ah: a column of cars just drove by in the street *immediately* in front of the column, with several honking and blowing whistles.
That’s usually observers following ICE vehicles and alerting people.
I missed them, but you may be able to hear honking in the distance.
That’s usually observers following ICE vehicles and alerting people.
I missed them, but you may be able to hear honking in the distance.
Alright, marching back, just adding more harmonies as they go.
January 11, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Alright, marching back, just adding more harmonies as they go.
Still singing: “we grieve together, stop the deportations.”
January 11, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Still singing: “we grieve together, stop the deportations.”
As the sing, one participant holds a sign that reads “Jesus was an immigrant, stop ICE.”
People drive by honking in support, prompting cheers.
People drive by honking in support, prompting cheers.
January 11, 2026 at 8:22 PM
As the sing, one participant holds a sign that reads “Jesus was an immigrant, stop ICE.”
People drive by honking in support, prompting cheers.
People drive by honking in support, prompting cheers.
Many harmonies as they sing “we have been burned, burned by the fire/ and we are ashes, ashes and smoke/ and we will rise higher and higher/ on the wings of compassion, justice and hope.”
January 11, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Many harmonies as they sing “we have been burned, burned by the fire/ and we are ashes, ashes and smoke/ and we will rise higher and higher/ on the wings of compassion, justice and hope.”
Singers now processing through the neighborhood, aware that ICE has been active in the general area.
January 11, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Singers now processing through the neighborhood, aware that ICE has been active in the general area.
At a church in Minneapolis that is hosting an anti-ICE singing vigil, which will later process through the neighborhood.
They sing: “This is for our neighbors who are locked inside, together we will abolish ICE.”
They sing: “This is for our neighbors who are locked inside, together we will abolish ICE.”
January 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
At a church in Minneapolis that is hosting an anti-ICE singing vigil, which will later process through the neighborhood.
They sing: “This is for our neighbors who are locked inside, together we will abolish ICE.”
They sing: “This is for our neighbors who are locked inside, together we will abolish ICE.”
Also in here: I spoke with a person who has been out monitoring ICE in Minneapolis — a religious high schooler who has done the same in Chicago for months.
He told me ICE’s response to observers like them in Minnesota is already more aggressive — on average — than they’re used to.
He told me ICE’s response to observers like them in Minnesota is already more aggressive — on average — than they’re used to.
January 11, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Also in here: I spoke with a person who has been out monitoring ICE in Minneapolis — a religious high schooler who has done the same in Chicago for months.
He told me ICE’s response to observers like them in Minnesota is already more aggressive — on average — than they’re used to.
He told me ICE’s response to observers like them in Minnesota is already more aggressive — on average — than they’re used to.
There are debatable exceptions, but as a historical and theological matter, no, most likely would not.
Some Founding Fathers were deists. Some were Quakers. Others were Presbyterians who wrote a lot about religious freedom.
And some were, uh, Thomas Paine (here in a later edition of Common Sense):
Some Founding Fathers were deists. Some were Quakers. Others were Presbyterians who wrote a lot about religious freedom.
And some were, uh, Thomas Paine (here in a later edition of Common Sense):
January 11, 2026 at 3:10 AM
There are debatable exceptions, but as a historical and theological matter, no, most likely would not.
Some Founding Fathers were deists. Some were Quakers. Others were Presbyterians who wrote a lot about religious freedom.
And some were, uh, Thomas Paine (here in a later edition of Common Sense):
Some Founding Fathers were deists. Some were Quakers. Others were Presbyterians who wrote a lot about religious freedom.
And some were, uh, Thomas Paine (here in a later edition of Common Sense):
Like, a *lot* of religious signs.
January 11, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Like, a *lot* of religious signs.
Many, many religious signs at this protest.
January 10, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Many, many religious signs at this protest.
This anti-ICE protest and march is…very large.
January 10, 2026 at 8:12 PM
This anti-ICE protest and march is…very large.
Folks are gathering for an anti-ICE march in Minnesota.
Many more photos to come, but in the meantime: “movement chaplains” and Star Wars references.
Many more photos to come, but in the meantime: “movement chaplains” and Star Wars references.
January 10, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Folks are gathering for an anti-ICE march in Minnesota.
Many more photos to come, but in the meantime: “movement chaplains” and Star Wars references.
Many more photos to come, but in the meantime: “movement chaplains” and Star Wars references.
It seems to be a recurring thing.
E.g., here's Rev. Bautista being shot in the face with one of these rounds — or something similar — by a DHS agent during a protest last year (via @berkeleyside.org).
E.g., here's Rev. Bautista being shot in the face with one of these rounds — or something similar — by a DHS agent during a protest last year (via @berkeleyside.org).
January 10, 2026 at 3:39 AM
It seems to be a recurring thing.
E.g., here's Rev. Bautista being shot in the face with one of these rounds — or something similar — by a DHS agent during a protest last year (via @berkeleyside.org).
E.g., here's Rev. Bautista being shot in the face with one of these rounds — or something similar — by a DHS agent during a protest last year (via @berkeleyside.org).
A thing I noticed reporting in Minneapolis today: if DHS was under the impression the events of this week would discourage ICE observers from continuing their work, that, uh, doesn't appear to be happening.
January 10, 2026 at 2:32 AM
A thing I noticed reporting in Minneapolis today: if DHS was under the impression the events of this week would discourage ICE observers from continuing their work, that, uh, doesn't appear to be happening.