The Army Veteran Arrested for Protesting at a St. Paul Church Was Just Set Free
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
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Ian Austin, a US Army veteran, was arrested by federal agents on Friday for participating in an anti-ICE protest outside the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, but has now been released without conditions, according to Mother Jones.
Austin was one of nine defendants, including journalist Don Lemon, facing federal charges for interfering with religious freedom at a St. Paul church where a local ICE official serves as a pastor, with free speech advocates condemning the arrests as an attack on First Amendment rights.
Austin's defense attorney, Sarah Gad, says he will continue to protest, but with a shifted approach, stating "I've been pretty vocal and very willing to be on the front lines, now I sort of have to shift my tack" to avoid further arrests, as reported by Julia Lurie for Mother Jones.
