A protester dressed as a priest turned a routine congressional hearing into religious theater by screaming “The power of Christ compels you!” at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, transforming immigration policy debate into a moral battleground.
Story Highlights
- Protester in priest costume disrupted House Homeland Security hearing with famous Exorcist line
- CodePink activists targeted Kristi Noem over ICE raids and deportation policies
- Religious imagery used to challenge Christian officials on immigration enforcement
- Second protester displayed “No ICE, No Troops” sign before removal by Capitol Police
Sacred Theater Meets Political Reality
The House Homeland Security Committee’s “Worldwide Threats to the Homeland” hearing proceeded normally until a man in black and red religious robes stood up from the audience. His booming voice cut through the formal atmosphere as he shouted “Stop ICE raids! The power of Christ compels you! End deportations! Love thy neighbor!” The theatrical choice was deliberate, invoking cinema’s most famous exorcism scene to suggest something demonic needed casting out of American immigration policy.
Holy Shit! It's "The Exorcist" !!!!!
'The power of Christ compels you!'
Screaming protester interrupts Kristi Noem amid hearinghttps://t.co/ebtLWFoMUu pic.twitter.com/WlTa4ldKQo— Annie van Leur (@AnnevanLeur) December 11, 2025
Capitol Police moved swiftly to escort the costumed protester from the hearing room, but his message lingered. The timing was particularly pointed, coming just two days after Noem had publicly posted about relying on God throughout her public service career, setting up a direct confrontation between competing interpretations of Christian duty.
Double Disruption Amplifies Anti-ICE Message
As security removed the first protester, a second activist rose with a “No ICE, No Troops” sign, chanting “Stop ICE! Get ICE off our streets! Stop terrorizing our communities!” This coordinated escalation revealed the protest’s connection to CodePink, the peace organization known for theatrical disruptions of congressional proceedings. The dual message linked domestic immigration enforcement to broader critiques of American militarism overseas.
CodePink’s spokesperson later condemned what she called the “war criminal crew” on the committee, accusing them of “terrorizing our communities, from our streets here to Palestine, Venezuela, and all over the world” with taxpayer dollars. The language deliberately blurred lines between foreign military interventions and domestic immigration enforcement, framing both as state-sponsored violence.
Faith-Based Resistance Meets Political Power
The protest’s religious framing tapped into growing tensions within American Christianity over immigration policy. Pope Francis has criticized U.S. treatment of migrants as “extremely disrespectful,” while many evangelical leaders have supported stricter enforcement. The protesters weaponized this divide, using sacred language to challenge officials who publicly invoke their faith while implementing policies activists consider cruel.
This moral confrontation reflects broader questions about whether Christian principles of hospitality and compassion should override concerns about border security and law enforcement. The theatrical nature of the protest ensured these competing religious interpretations would dominate media coverage rather than technical policy discussions about homeland security threats.
Sources:
Dem rep opens House hearing by telling Noem to resign in fiery statement – AOL
