Granola Bar Trial

In September of 2025, Nastasia Lawton-Sticklor, Nathan Phillips, and Eleanor Reid attempted to deliver food to the folks being detained in the ICE Field Office in Burlington, MA. This facility has been the site of significant concern due to its inhumane treatment of people detained there in violation of both of Burlington’s zoning laws, as well as ICE’s own 72-hour limit on keeping people in these types of facilities. ICE agents met the three, and their baskets of granola bars, with rage and violence, and ultimately called the police to demand that they be arrested for trespass.

Nastasia and Nathan were charged with trespass in the Woburn District Court, and will be going to trial on August 26th, 2026. This trial is not just about fighting charges. It is a chance to show our solidarity with those who have been subjected to the cruelty inherent in the immigration system and ICE. We invite you to show up for court support, learn more about the case, and connect with others who are finding ways to resist cruelty and complacency.

If you plan to attend the trial in August, please fill out the RSVP form so that we can be in contact. If you would like to receive updates on the case ahead of trial, please sign up for our mailing list.

Selected articles from the case

Leominster woman arrested at ICE office seeks camera footage. Sentinel and Enterprise, 3/27/26

Leominster woman arrested trying to bring food to ICE detainees. Sentinel and Enterprise, 9/20/25

Three protesters arrested on the steps of Burlington ICE facility. Sentinel and Enterprise, 9/15/25

Three arrested at Mass ICE office, charged with trespassing. Boston Globe, 9/15/25

Three activists arrested outside Burlington ICE office after trying to deliver food to detainees. Boston.com, 9/14/25

Three activists arrested outside Burlington ICE office after trying to deliver food to detainees. WBUR, 9/12/25

Press Release, September 12, 2025

Interviews

Nastasia joins Radio with a View:

Episode 149: Bearing Witness through Civil Disobedience

Nastasia speaks at Bearing Witness Rally outside Burlington Facility:

Interview on Boston Public Radio:

More attempts to deliver aid:

4 arrested taking care packages to immigrant detainees at Burlington processing center. WGBH, 12/16/25

11 arrested after protesting outside Burlington ICE facility. WBUR, 4/29/26

About the Burlington ICE field office

Burlington Select Board frustrated over denials of ICE facility inspection. Lowell Sun, 6/23/26

In Burlington, residents protest ICE headquarters, a landlord, a parking lot and a cafe. WBUR, 3/19/26

‘Lawless’: Mass. Congresswoman denied entry to Burlington ICE facility. WBUR, 2/9/26

Larson Illegally Denied Entry to ICE Facility in Burlington, Massachusetts. Congressman John Larson Press Release, 1/29/26

Town of Burlington overwhelmingly condemns ‘inhumane’ conditions at ICE facility. Boston.com, 10/8/25

Hundreds were detained in ICE’s Burlington office for multiple days, data shows. WBUR, 9/17/25

Inside the Burlington office ICE has used to detain immigrants. WBUR, 7/18/25

Warren, Markey, MA Leaders Sound Alarm on Inhumane Conditions at Burlington ICE Field Office, ICE Attempts to Undermine Transparency. Joint Press Release, 6/26/25

‘I can’t take being locked up like this anymore.’ Detained immigrants at Burlington ICE facility allege unsafe conditions. Boston Globe, 6/15/25

Massachusetts town looking into ICE facility zoning violations after teen described conditions. CBS News, 6/12/25

Women in ICE’s Burlington office subject to ‘inhumane’ and unsanitary conditions, lawyers say. WBUR, 6/11/25