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Mother Jones illustration; Julia Lurie<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Ian Austin, the Army veteran<\/span> who was arrested<\/a> in Minneapolis on Friday by federal agents for participating in an anti-ICE protest, has been released without conditions.<\/p>\n Austin was featured in a viral Mother Jones<\/em> video<\/a> last week in which he was protesting outside the Whipple Federal Building, where ICE is based and detainees are held. \u201cWhen they say, \u2018Why would you be out here?\u2019 How the fuck could I not be out here?\u201d he said at the time. \u201cMy nation is under attack.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe loves his country so much, and he sees coming here and standing up for the values that he truly believes in as an extension of that act of service.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n Austin was one of nine defendants, including journalist Don Lemon, who were taken into custody for participating in or reporting on a demonstration last month at a St. Paul church where a local ICE official serves as a pastor. They face federal charges<\/a>, including for interfering with religious freedom in a place of worship.\u00a0<\/p>\n The arrests have alarmed free speech advocates, who say the protesters were peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights.<\/p>\n \u201cHe loves his country so much,\u201d said Sarah Gad, the defense attorney representing Austin, \u201cand he sees coming here and standing up for the values that he truly believes in as an extension of that act of service.\u201d Gad said that the gallery at Monday\u2019s hearing was full of observers supporting Austin, including many veterans.\u00a0<\/p>\n Austin said on Monday that he appreciated the support, but he felt uncomfortable that his case was getting so much attention. \u201cAs a white person, and as a veteran, it\u2019s like, \u2018Oh, some big deal,’\u201d he said. \u201cMeanwhile, families are being ripped apart.\u201d<\/p>\n He said that he plans to continue protesting in the days to come, though he wants to make sure he\u2019s not arrested again. \u201cI\u2019ve been pretty vocal and very willing to be on the front lines,\u201d he said. \u201cNow, I sort of have to shift my tack.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n