Walz-Appointed Judge Dismisses All Charges Against Serial Anti-ICE Activist Who Disrupted Easter Service
Ramsey County District Judge Maria Mitchell dismissed the four misdemeanor charges — disorderly conduct, interrupting a religious observance, knowingly participating in a noisy assembly, and continuing to disturb the peace.
Tommy Flynn
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A judge appointed by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has thrown out all criminal charges against Emily Heather Phillips, the anti-ICE activist arrested for disrupting Easter Sunday services at Cities Church in St. Paul.
Ramsey County District Judge Maria Mitchell dismissed the four misdemeanor charges — disorderly conduct, interrupting a religious observance, knowingly participating in a noisy assembly, and continuing to disturb the peace — during a brief hearing on Monday, April 6, 2026. The judge ruled there was “no probable cause” for the charges.
Phillips, 33, of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, was one of several protesters who gathered outside the church on Easter morning. Cities Church has become a repeated target for anti-ICE activists because its pastor also serves as the Acting Field Office Director for ICE’s St. Paul office.
Phillips is a well-known figure in anti-ICE circles. She has filmed herself confronting and harassing ICE agents at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and has participated in multiple protests against federal immigration enforcement. Her arrest on Easter was the latest in a pattern of high-profile activism.
Her attorney, Trisha Pohland, successfully argued for immediate dismissal of the case. Phillips was released from custody shortly after the hearing.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from conservatives who view it as another example of politicized justice in Minnesota, where Walz-appointed judges have repeatedly shown leniency toward left-wing activists. The case highlights ongoing tensions between faith communities and aggressive anti-ICE protesters who target churches with ties to federal immigration enforcement.
No further charges are expected at this time, though the St. Paul City Attorney’s office could theoretically refile if new evidence emerges. Phillips has not issued a public statement following her release.
The incident adds to a growing list of cases in which activists have faced minimal legal consequences for disrupting religious services or public events.