Feds Charged Activists Just Before Major Anti-ICE Protest in a Tiny Vermont Town

Federal authorities in Vermont have charged several activists just before a major planned protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Williston, a small town near Burlington. The charges, announced last week, target individuals accused of disrupting operations at ICE's National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center (NCATC). The NCATC, a facility designed to assist ICE in identifying and tracking deportation targets, is among only two such facilities in the United States. Located in Williston, the center plays a key role in ICE's expanded surveillance capabilities. The town, home to around 10,000 residents, has become a focal point for anti-immigration enforcement despite its largely rural character and minimal history of large-scale ICE operations. Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark previously filed charges against 13 protesters for their involvement in a July sit-in at the NCATC. Federal prosecutors followed suit last week, charging five individuals, some already facing state-level charges, with disrupting operations at the facility on multiple occasions. These individuals range in age from 22 to 80 years old. Julie Macuga, an organizer involved in the upcoming protests, suggested the timing of the charges was intentional. She stated that authorities likely aimed to intimidate participants and discourage them from engaging in civil disobedience ahead of the planned demonstrations. The expansion of ICE’s operations has coincided with increased funding and a focus on surveillance technology. According to Michelle Dahl, an attorney with the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, the rise in surveillance infrastructure reflects a broader trend of enhanced monitoring capabilities at all levels of government. Separately, the Trump administration reached a $950 million agreement to purchase three immigration detention facilities in California from GEO Group Inc. The deal includes three facilities in Adelanto with over 2,600 beds combined. GEO will continue operating the facilities under an existing contract set to expire in December 2034.