Another round of protests outside Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Boston field office in Burlington has town police saying they are stretched thin. Chief Thomas Browne says the recurring demonstrations are pulling officers away from routine duties and tying up already limited resources.
On Wednesday, Burlington police arrested 11 people who refused to move from the building’s administrative entrance, according to Browne. The response, he said, temporarily diverted officers who otherwise would have been on patrol or handling other calls.
Arrests at the Burlington ICE office
Federal Protective Services called in Burlington police after roughly 40 people gathered at the administrative entrance of the District Avenue facility. Most of the group moved to a designated free-speech area when asked, but 11 people stayed put and were arrested.
The field office is located at 1000 District Ave., and the department worked with the Woburn District Court clerk magistrate to have those arrested released later that day, according to Boston.com. Police say the incident required nine officers to be reassigned from other work in order to staff the protest response.
Police chief: balancing free speech and public safety
"While it is never our initial goal to resolve a situation with an arrest, this was a clear act of civil disobedience," Browne said. He added that the department "respects the First Amendment rights of our citizens" while remaining "duty-bound to uphold the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
In a statement to WBUR, Browne said officers spent about 40 minutes trying to de-escalate and persuade protesters to move before some refused repeated orders to relocate. Town officials say the regular demonstrations have turned the site into a standing assignment that requires a continuing police presence.
Protesters say they were delivering care packages
Organizers say many in the group, including people who traveled from Maine, had come to the Burlington office to hand over food, hygiene products and letters for detainees, according to NBC Boston.
One of those arrested, retired minister James Gertmenian, said the group’s action was intended to draw attention to conditions inside the field office, Boston.com reported. Police said the 11 people arrested were issued summonses for trespassing and disturbing the peace and were released after processing, according to NBC Boston.
Why this has become a flashpoint
Protests at the District Avenue field office have been a steady presence since April 2025, when the "Bearing Witness" campaign began. The actions have attracted clergy, attorneys and elected officials who say they are concerned about what is happening inside the building.
The Boston Globe has reported that ICE arrests in Massachusetts climbed sharply after January 2025, reaching more than 7,000 arrests by early March 2026, a surge that helped fuel the sustained demonstrations. That backdrop helps explain why organizers keep returning to Burlington and why town leaders are trying to thread the needle between protecting free speech and maintaining public safety.
What’s next
Burlington police say they will keep coordinating with federal agencies and protest organizers in an effort to prevent major disruptions at the site. Browne has warned, though, that repeated stand-outs at the facility come with an ongoing staffing cost for his department.
Advocates argue that civil disobedience is central to keeping attention on how detainees are treated. Town officials counter that keeping the administrative entrance open is essential for the agency’s operations and for public safety. For earlier coverage of how the protests evolved, see Hoodline’s account of the 14-hour protest at the same field office.
