Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George announced Wednesday that she will not pursue charges against six individuals arrested during a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid in South Burlington last month, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from state police leaders.
Prosecutor's Rationale
In a statement, George explained that her decision was based on a careful analysis of the harm caused and who contributed to it. “I see the purpose of prosecution to be, in part, to heal harm caused by the person being charged,” she said. While she acknowledged that some protesters may have crossed the line into criminal behavior, she also noted that certain law enforcement actions were “unacceptable.” George emphasized that charging six individuals with no criminal records to bear the burden of all the harm was not in the interest of justice.
Background of the Incident
The confrontation occurred on March 11 during a daylong ICE raid at a residence on Dorset Street. Federal agents detained three individuals inside the house, who were later released by federal judges after it was determined that the enforcement action was based on a mistaken identity. The standoff marked the first major immigration enforcement in Vermont under the Trump administration's crackdown.
Six protesters were arrested—three by Vermont State Police and three by Burlington police—on charges including disorderly conduct and assault on a law enforcement officer. The arrests came amid heightened tensions on both sides.
Law Enforcement Response
Vermont Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison and State Police Director Col. Matthew T. Birmingham condemned George's decision as “a disheartening action that sets a dangerous precedent.” They argued that lawbreakers in Chittenden County already act with impunity and that failing to bring charges would embolden future criminal behavior, endangering both the public and law enforcement.
Interim Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke stated that engaging in physical confrontations with police is not protected speech under the First Amendment. He confirmed that the Burlington Police Department will not participate in the restorative justice process to which George referred the three Burlington cases.
Calls for Independent Review
George has called for an independent review of law enforcement actions during the raid, citing allegations that police violated the state's fair and impartial policing policy. Immigration and social justice advocates have reported incidents of protesters being choked, pepper-sprayed, and dragged by police. State and South Burlington police deny any wrongdoing.
Morrison and Birmingham rejected the need for an independent assessment, arguing that it undermines the trust between prosecutors and police departments that rely on each other for daily casework.
George, who is seeking her third full term in 2026, has previously declined to charge elderly protesters in a separate civil disobedience action. Her policies on reducing cash bail and expanding restorative justice have drawn both criticism and praise.
This story was originally published by VTDigger and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
