Vermont Protesters Face Federal Charges at ICE Office
Five protesters face charges under a new DHS rule after sit-ins blocked the entrances to an ICE office in Williston, Vermont.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Immigration
Live Poll
Should people be prosecuted for protesting at federal immigration enforcement offices?
Three of the five Vermont protesters pleaded not guilty Thursday to obstructing the usual use, enjoyment, and access to federal property, a petty misdemeanor. The charges stem from sit-in protests at the National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center in Williston.
Why it matters
The charges are brought under a Department of Homeland Security rule that was fast-tracked without the typically required notice period and public comment, raising questions for residents in Vermont about how protest activity near federal facilities will be handled. DHS cited recent civil unrest and attacks on federal officers as justification for the regulation.
Three protesters have pleaded not guilty to a petty misdemeanor carrying up to 30 days in prison and a $5,000 fine. Lexington Kennedy and Roan Wade are scheduled to be arraigned on November 19, and attorney Robert Appel intends to file a motion to dismiss the charges.
The players
Department of Homeland Security
The federal department that proposed and fast-tracked the new rule governing protests at federal facilities.
Robert Appel
Attorney representing the three arraigned protesters, who intends to file a motion to dismiss the charges.
The details
The charges stem from sit-in protests on February 9, May 14, and July 24 that blocked ICE office entrances at the National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center in Williston. Protesters ignored dispersal orders from Vermont State Police, and the rule took effect in November 2025 without public comment.
Timeline
September 2025: A shooting of an ICE transport van in Dallas, Texas, was cited by DHS in its rationale for the rule.
November 2025: The new DHS rule took effect without public comment.
February 9, May 14, and July 24: Protests occurred at the Williston ICE office.
Legal Context
The charges apply a DHS rule proposed in early 2025 and fast-tracked past the usual notice-and-comment process to protesters at a Vermont ICE facility. The case will test how federal property-obstruction charges are used against demonstrators at immigration enforcement sites.
Residents who plan to protest at federal facilities in Vermont now face potential federal charges with fines of up to $5,000 and jail time of up to 30 days. The rule's fast-track adoption means it took effect without the public comment period typically afforded to affected communities.
The takeaway
Protest rights near federal immigration facilities are now being tested under a rule adopted without public comment, and the outcome of these Vermont cases may shape how similar charges are handled elsewhere. Readers following the issue should watch the November 19 arraignments and any motion to dismiss.
What happens next
Lexington Kennedy and Roan Wade are scheduled to be arraigned on November 19.
Further reading
Explore more on Immigration coverage in Vermont and across the country.
Live Poll
Should people be prosecuted for protesting at federal immigration enforcement offices?
