(STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA) Dozens of Northern California immigrants were abruptly ordered to report to the Stockton ICE office for weekend check-ins on Saturday, October 25, 2025—an unusual move for an office that is typically closed on weekends—and by day’s end, about 25 people were detained, according to immigrant advocates and local news reports. Many of those summoned were already under federal supervision through ICE’s Alternatives to Detention programs, which allow people to live at home while their cases move through court. As of October 2025, ICE reports that about 7.6 million immigrants are enrolled in these supervision programs. As of Sunday, October 26, there was no official comment from ICE about the Stockton detentions, and legal challenges were underway.
The Stockton action stood out for both its timing and its targets. Weekend check-ins for people with pending immigration claims had been uncommon, attorneys said, and the sudden scheduling fueled fears among families who believed they were following the rules. By early afternoon on Saturday, advocates said 6–8 people were already detained, including an asylum seeker and a sole breadwinner for his household. By the evening, the number climbed to roughly 25, with relatives waiting outside for hours to hear who would be released and who would be transported to detention.
Rapid detentions after weekend summons
Those called in were mostly people already meeting strict reporting rules, often under ICE’s Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP)—a branch of the broader Alternatives to Detention system that includes electronic monitoring and frequent check-ins. Federal oversight programs like these are meant to ensure court attendance while allowing individuals to live at home and work, rather than being held in detention.
ICE describes ISAP as a case management tool; an overview is available on the agency’s website at ICE ISAP.
Advocates said the weekend operation shook that trust. Families who had never missed an appointment, and who expected routine check-ins, instead saw parents and spouses taken into custody. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, sudden enforcement against people already in supervision often leads to broader fear in immigrant communities, where word of mouth spreads quickly and many worry that checking in—even when ordered—could lead to detention.
Local officials and community groups described the weekend push as part of a larger pattern of stepped-up federal enforcement in Northern California and other liberal-leaning regions. The action followed months of heated national debate about immigration enforcement in the United States 🇺🇸. President Trump had previously announced plans for a federal immigration “surge” in the Bay Area. After conversations with local leaders and business figures, the surge in San Francisco was called off. However, there were no assurances for other parts of the region, and operations continued in places such as the Stockton ICE office, drawing concern from advocates who saw a shift in focus to communities outside major cities.
The Department of Homeland Security has said the enforcement focus is on “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.” But advocates point to ICE data showing that over 70% of those detained have no criminal convictions, a figure at odds with the stated intent. Attorneys said that discrepancy deepened fears among people who had complied for years, only to see routine reporting turn into a detention risk.
Legal access and due process concerns
Attorneys who went to the Stockton ICE office on Saturday said they were initially barred from entering and were accused of being “fake attorneys,” even when they presented State Bar Association cards. After pressure from advocates and local officials, lawyers were allowed inside.
Families said detained people were forced to choose between meeting a relative or meeting an attorney—a choice that raised serious due process concerns. Legal observers argue that restricting timely access to counsel during custody decisions can affect the entire course of a case, including the chance to seek release on bond or to present evidence of family ties, work history, or medical needs.
In recent weeks, federal judges in San Francisco have rebuked ICE over due process failures and have ordered the release of some detainees through habeas corpus petitions. Lawyers monitoring Saturday’s operation said those rulings could foreshadow similar challenges in cases arising from Stockton. Some planned to file emergency motions early this week, seeking immediate access to clients and arguing that the conditions of Saturday’s check-ins undermined basic fairness.
Impact on supervised participants and community
What made Saturday’s events so unsettling for many families was the emphasis on people already enrolled in Alternatives to Detention, where compliance is a core requirement. People on ISAP often wear GPS ankle monitors, submit to home visits, and attend frequent check-ins. Pulling compliant participants into detention, advocates argued, risks sending the message that following the rules offers no protection from sudden custody.
That message, they warned, can discourage attendance at future check-ins—the very appointments meant to support court appearance rates.
Community advocates and several local officials condemned the operation as arbitrary and disruptive. They said that parents taken into custody left children without care on short notice, and that employers would feel the shock on Monday when workers did not show up. One advocate described consoling a teenager who had arrived to translate for a parent, only to watch that parent taken away. These are the ripple effects of weekend actions: empty seats at the dinner table, sudden childcare gaps, and lost wages.
Advice for affected individuals and families
The question now is what happens next. As of October 26, immigration lawyers said they were tracking detainees’ movements and trying to verify who had been sent to which facilities. They urged families to keep records of all ICE contacts, save any notices for weekend check-ins, and write down the names of officers they spoke with.
They also recommended that anyone on ISAP or other Alternatives to Detention programs speak with a licensed attorney before new appointments and carry proof of representation to the Stockton ICE office.
Legal groups suggested these practical steps for those with upcoming reporting dates:
1. Bring government-issued identification and any ICE notices.
2. Carry your attorney’s business card and a signed representation notice.
3. Prepare an emergency plan for children and dependents in case of sudden detention.
4. Keep phone numbers for local legal aid and relatives written on paper, not just stored in a phone.
Advocates stressed that, despite the weekend operation, people should still attend scheduled check-ins unless advised otherwise by counsel. Missing an appointment can trigger additional enforcement and harm a pending case. At the same time, they called on ICE to provide clear public guidance about scheduling practices at the Stockton ICE office and to confirm when, if ever, weekend appointments will be used for supervised individuals.
Important: Attendees should document all contacts with ICE, retain notices for weekend check-ins, and, when possible, have legal representation present or proof of representation on hand.
What’s next
As legal challenges develop, the Stockton detentions will test the balance between supervision and custody for people on Alternatives to Detention. They will also test whether recent court rulings on due process shape day-to-day decisions inside field offices.
For now, families wait for phone calls, attorneys trade updates from detention centers, and the Stockton ICE office remains at the center of a weekend that changed many lives in a matter of hours.
This Article in a Nutshell
On October 25, 2025, Stockton ICE conducted weekend check-ins that resulted in about 25 detentions, an atypical use of a field office usually closed on weekends. Many of those summoned were enrolled in Alternatives to Detention programs, including ISAP, which rely on monitoring and routine reporting to allow people to live at home while their cases progress. Attorneys initially faced barriers to entry and alleged clients were forced to choose between family contact and legal counsel, raising due process concerns. Advocates warn the operation may discourage future compliance with check-ins and disrupt families and workplaces. Legal teams are preparing emergency motions and habeas petitions as they work to secure access and challenge the detentions.
