Minneapolis Church Holds Service of 'Lament and Hope' Amid Immigration Tensions

Mon Jan 12 2026 04:33:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In response to heightened immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, St. Paul’s-San Pablo Lutheran Church hosted a special service to address community fears following a fatal shooting by an immigration officer.

St. Paul’s-San Pablo Lutheran Church in Minneapolis held a poignant service titled 'Lament and Hope' to support its immigrant community in the wake of a recent fatal shooting involving an ICE officer. Led by Rev. Hierald Osorto, the service addressed the anxiety felt among congregants amidst increased immigration enforcement activities. Attendees lit candles, offered prayers, and expressed solidarity through hymns, even as tensions rose outside with visible enforcement actions. Community members shared their fears and the importance of unity in facing these challenges, indicating that such gatherings provide essential support and strength during troubling times.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minneapolis church opened its doors for a special Sunday service — called a service of ‘Lament and Hope’ — in recognition of the tumultuous week in a city on edge after the fatal shooting of a woman by an immigration officer.

“Thank you for being here this morning. Gathering is such a critical, critical thing to do, especially in these times. It’s been a difficult week,” the Rev. Hierald Osorto, pastor at St. Paul’s-San Pablo Lutheran Church, told a crowd seated on wooden benches.

The service comes as Minneapolis has the spotlight as the latest flashpoint in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. The Department of Homeland Security has sent roughly 2,000 agents and officers to the region in a show of force, sparking fear in the city’s immigrant communities and strong opposition among activists who are pushing back loudly against enforcement.

The church, which actively ministers to a largely immigrant congregation, is located in a neighborhood that has seen heavy immigration enforcement activities since Homeland Security targeted the city. It’s also just 1 1/2 miles (2.4 kilometers) from the block where Renee Good was shot Wednesday by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, sending tensions even higher.

Candles lit and hymns sung as the crackdown continues

In many ways it was a typical Sunday service. Candles were lit, hymns sung, and communion offered.

But outside, immigration enforcement officers were actively driving through in the neighborhood, detaining people while activists blasted away on whistles and beat drums, hoping to stop them.

Church security stood guard by the doors and controlled who came in.

Inside St. Paul’s, worshippers lit candles and greeted each other with smiles and hugs. A statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe stood at the front of the church.

Church volunteers handed out pamphlets that included information on the service, the songs to be sung, and the prayers that would be offered. On the front was a drawing of a woman holding a sack with the words, “Justice is for Everyone: Immigrant Rights Now!”

The church has long been part of the community. Osorto says it began with a predominantly Swedish congregation with services held in Swedish. As times changed, the services shifted to Swedish and English, then just English. Nowadays, it’s a mixture of Spanish and English with Osorto seamlessly switching between the two languages.

A prayer is said for the woman who was shot

During the service Sunday, Osorto said a prayer for Good. He noticed a slight dip in attendance Sunday but was pleased with the turnout given all the congregation is going through.

“I think that it’s important for folks to realize that what’s happened here in the Twin Cities has changed us for the rest of our lives,” he said after the service.

Anna Amundson, a member of the congregation, shared that many people are fearful, with some not going to work or even the grocery store.

“A lot of people are afraid to kind of do the basic things, and so that’s why it’s even more impressive that people are still coming to church. This community is important to people, and I think that you can kind of see that,” she said. “People in our congregation are scared.”

One attendee, Lizete, expressed her own fears as an immigrant but felt a sense of support within the church community. She stated, “Here I have my people, who is close to me, and I feel their really, really support.”

‘Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten’

She drew strength from a hymn sung during the service that stated, “Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten. Those who seek God shall never go wanting.” The church also organized a gathering later that day, where dozens participated in a singing vigil to oppose the current immigration enforcement actions.

Additionally, members created paper flowers previously meant for Christmas processions to carry at protests against immigration enforcement. Jose Luis Villasenor, during the service, encouraged everyone to remember their courage and resilience, reflecting on the collective strength present within the community.