Katherine Vogel Charged

Katherine Meagan Vogel, 39, has been charged with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer after striking a federal law enforcement officer in the jaw with a closed fist near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

According to court documents, the incident occurred on the evening of September 30, 2025, when Vogel applied red paint to the driveway of the ICE facility. Federal officers detained her and escorted her to the ICE facility for questioning related to depredation of government property.

While being processed, Vogel allegedly struck one of the federal officers in the jaw with a closed fist, resulting in an additional charge of assaulting a federal officer. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, Scott E. Bradford, stated that "Violence and property damage at the ICE building or any other federal building will not be tolerated. If you assault a federal law enforcement officer or damage federal property, you will be arrested and federally prosecuted,"

Vogel made her first appearance in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was released on conditions pending further court proceedings. The charge of felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison.

Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 28 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property. This trend of violence and property damage at federal buildings will not be tolerated, and those responsible will face severe consequences.

The case against Vogel is a reminder that assaulting federal law enforcement officers is a serious crime with significant penalties. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. As the investigation and court proceedings continue, the public will be watching to see how this case unfolds and what message it sends to those who would engage in similar behavior.

In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that the safety and security of federal law enforcement officers and property are of utmost importance. The office will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute those who engage in violent or destructive behavior at federal buildings, including the ICE office in South Portland.