The Intercept: Federal Prosecutors Charge Five Over Disruptions at ICE's Vermont Targeting Center Days Before a Planned Week of Action

The Intercept reported on October 7 2026 that, last week, federal prosecutors unveiled surprise charges against five people, some of whom were already being charged by Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark. The five people facing federal charges are alleged by federal authorities to have disrupted operations at the NCATC, ICE’s National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center in Williston, on multiple occasions. In late September, Clark introduced surprise misdemeanor charges against 13 protesters for allegedly participating in a July sit-in at the NCATC.

The Intercept reports that the state charges stemmed from an unusual move: the Vermont State Police began circumventing the county state’s attorney, Sarah George, and instead took their cases directly to the attorney general’s office. State Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said: “There have been cases that Sarah George has declined, but these 13 cases were never even brought.”

The NCATC is one of only two facilities like it in the nation, according to the report, and is designed to come up with target information in as little as 30 minutes. The timing of the charges relative to the week of action is the organizers’ inference; the article does not establish a motive.

Earlier arrests at the site: 2026-09-04–seven-vermont-clergy-arrested-blockading-ncatc-ice-targeting-center-williston.