The 13 people cited for criminal trespass during a sit-in protest against federal immigration authorities at a Williston office park on February 9 will not be criminally charged.
Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George said on Thursday that her office has declined to prosecute the cases.
The protesters, whose ages range from 21 to 85, were cited by Vermont State Police after refusing to leave a building where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates its National Criminal Analysis Targeting Center.
The center, which is just one of about a dozen tenants in White Cap Business Park, houses analysts who disseminate information on noncitizens to ICE field offices around the country. As President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has escalated, the building has become the site of regular protests.
The protesters were due to be arraigned in court on March 2. But on Wednesday, George notified Detective Trooper Brandon Degre of the Vermont State Police in Williston that her office had declined to prosecute the charges.
In letters explaining that decision for each case, she noted the protesters’ “limited” or complete lack of criminal history. Some letters also cited the protesters’ “advanced age” and the fact that the State’s Attorney’s Office was not aware of any negative effect the protesters had on the business operations of the office park’s tenants.
The letters also noted that the protesters were “non-violent.”
“Should our office receive information directly from the tenants of White Cap Business Park about the effect these protestors have had on their operations, our office may reconsider this decision,” George wrote.
Some protesters have already vowed to return.
“I think we’re just going to keep at it,” said Laura Simon, 72, of White River Junction. Simon was cited by police during the February 9 protest and said she has been arrested about a dozen times over the past 13 years while protesting a number of causes. “When people are being seriously oppressed, the way to change that is to stand up to the amount of risk you can tolerate.”
“I will continue to go up there and protest,” she added.
The building’s property manager, Normand Stanislas, said he was “very disappointed” in the decision.
“My opinion is Sarah George is sending a message to the property owners of Chittenden County that unlawful trespass is allowed on private property in this county,” Stanislas said. “Not to mention unlawful trespass is also allowed within your private buildings with no legal consequences.”
Stanislas said the building houses about a dozen tenants, including a dental office, a café, a doctor’s office, and part of the Vermont Department for Children and Families.
Protests at the facility have increased since it was reported last fall that ICE is looking to add at least a dozen analysts at the site to scour social media posts and other online data to “enhance ICE’s mission and program efficiency.”
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