Local activists mobilize as federal immigration arrests surge in 2025

(MISSISSIPPI) The largest single ICE detention facility in the country now sits in Natchez, where the Adams County Detention Center averaged 2,171 detainees per day in September 2025 as federal immigration arrests continued to climb. Nationwide, 59,762 people are in ICE detention, up from 56,945 in July, with 71.5% having no criminal convictions, according to the latest available counts. Texas leads with 13,415 people in custody, followed by Louisiana (7,493) and California (3,801), underscoring a detention map that stretches across the United States 🇺🇸.

ICE’s custody footprint is only part of the story. As of September 20, officials were supervising 181,210 people through the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program — which uses check-ins, phone apps, home visits, and, increasingly, ankle monitors to track compliance with immigration court processes. While the overall ATD pool dipped slightly this year, the share of people wearing ankle monitors rose quickly, from 21,569 in May to 25,670 by late July, reflecting a policy tilt toward more physical surveillance even outside brick-and-mortar custody.

San Francisco now leads the country in ATD enrollments with 20,173 people, followed by Chicago (19,213) and Miami (17,091). Those numbers show where ICE field offices are steering people who are not in ICE detention but still remain under close watch. The agency’s public messaging emphasizes compliance and court appearance rates. Its critics point to the stress and stigma of ankle monitors and the confusion people face about rules and reporting, especially when English is not their first language.

Detention Growth and Shifts in Monitoring

The growth in custody and the shift in ATD tools come amid an energetic response from local activists who say federal actions are sweeping up people with deep family and work ties. Organizers in cities and smaller towns are building neighborhood alert systems for immigration arrests, logging ICE activity, and getting lawyers to people fast.

Their message: clear, verified information helps families plan and keep calm during tense encounters. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, community groups are refining these systems as detention grows and ATD rules harden, especially around ankle monitors and reporting schedules.

Examples from regions across the country:

• Southern California (Orange County)
  • Organizers use social media and encrypted chats to cross-check reports of ICE vehicles and federal teams on the move.
  • Volunteers called “patrollers” verify tips on the ground and broadcast live updates — often in Spanish — to warn residents and connect those picked up with legal support and family contacts.
  • This approach aims to prevent rumor-driven panic that can lead to missed work or school.
• Chicago area
  • Weekly protests outside the Broadview ICE Processing Center draw steady crowds.
  • Activists challenge local limits on protest hours and locations, arguing these rules violate free speech.
  • Some events have led to standoffs with law enforcement and arrests by Illinois State Police.
  • Plastic whistles have become a symbol of resistance; volunteers use them to alert neighbors of suspected ICE activity.
  • Beyond protests, residents track sightings and push alerts to help people avoid risky areas and find lawyers.
• San Francisco Bay Area
  • Large marches, blockades, and rapid mobilizations (near places like Coast Guard Island in Alameda) have shaped public pressure campaigns.
  • Activists say some planned enforcement surges were dialed back after announcements of mass responses, though federal officials publicly insist demonstrations do not alter operations.
  • DHS has stated that “agitators aren’t deterring or slowing down law enforcement.” The federal stance remains that ICE detention and arrests are necessary to enforce the law and protect public safety.

The policy backdrop adds complexity. ICE is seeking more bed space and has pressed governors to provide additional capacity, yet public reporting on facility occupancy and contract terms remains thin. Advocates say this lack of detailed, timely data makes it hard to track who is detained where, for how long, and under what conditions.

They also argue that the heavy use of ankle monitors inside Alternatives to Detention shows a move toward more intrusive tools without enough public oversight.

Community Response, Rights Education, and On-the-Ground Support

What started in big cities has spread to suburbs and rural communities — including in places like Mississippi, where detention centers play an outsized role in daily life because of jobs and local spending tied to the facilities. Organizers say smaller towns face different challenges: fewer legal providers, longer travel to court, and less media coverage. That can leave families feeling isolated when a loved one is taken into ICE detention far from home.

To fill the gaps, community groups are building practical networks focused on quick help, safety, and legal support. Common efforts include:

• Rapid response hotlines set up by regional coalitions to log sightings, dispatch volunteers, and connect families to trusted lawyers.
• “Know Your Rights” trainings that teach simple steps:
  1. Ask for a warrant signed by a judge.
  2. Stay silent beyond basic identification.
  3. Do not open the door unless the warrant allows entry.
• Encrypted messaging groups and phone trees to spread verified alerts quickly and protect reporters’ identities.
• Live-streams and short video clips documenting encounters, countering rumors, and showing how to safely film from public spaces.
• Partnerships with legal nonprofits for quick screenings, bond strategy where possible, and help with court check-ins for those in ATD.

Families caught in the middle describe a constant balancing act — getting kids to school, making rent, and keeping appointments with ICE officers or immigration courts. A missed check-in can trigger a custody transfer or a warrant.

Organizers recommend having:
– A simple folder with key documents
– A written family safety plan
– A list of phone numbers for lawyers and child care

Officials at ICE and DHS frame these steps differently. They say strong enforcement protects communities and supports immigration courts by keeping people on the docket. They argue that protests and patrols do not slow operations and that officers follow federal policy at each step. Still, the public record on detention capacity and conditions remains thin. Advocates see that gap as a core accountability problem, especially as more people are placed in ankle monitors inside the ATD program.

For people unsure about ATD rules and requirements, ICE maintains an official overview of Alternatives to Detention, including check-in procedures and technology tools used in the program. The resource is available here: ICE ATD overview. Support groups recommend people read the material, keep copies of appointment notices, and arrive early for check-ins, especially when traveling long distances by bus or car.

Local Government Roles and Public Opinion

Local governments are taking visible and varied roles:

• The Village of Broadview (Illinois) has enforced limits on protest hours and locations outside its ICE facility, triggering objections from civil liberties groups and activists who say the rules chill speech.
• Elsewhere, city leaders and state lawmakers have taken opposing stances — some praising community safety efforts and others backing federal officers and police.

This reflects a sharp divide in public opinion.

Key Trends at a Glance

• ICE detention totals have risen modestly since mid-2025, with the largest populations in Texas, Louisiana, and California.
• ATD enrollments dipped slightly, but ankle monitor use climbed, signaling a preference for devices that track movement in real time.
• Community monitoring networks are more organized and tech-savvy, mixing encrypted chats, live broadcasts, and lawyer hotlines.
• Protests have grown more confrontational in several regions, with arrests during demonstrations and tough rhetoric from federal officials.
• Limited public reporting on facility occupancy and contracts continues to hinder independent oversight.

For families, the immediate questions are simple: Where is my loved one? How can we talk to a lawyer? Can we keep them out of ICE detention or move them to Alternatives to Detention? Organizers point people to local hotlines, legal aid groups, and training sessions. They also encourage neighbors to watch for fake rumors and to rely only on verified alerts from trusted groups.

Employers, schools, and faith leaders are helping with rides to court, child care, and space for workshops. They say stable schedules and reliable transportation reduce missed check-ins and court dates — support that matters especially in rural counties where transit is limited and appointments can be hours away.

As the numbers mount — both in custody and in ATD — pressure is building on policymakers to release clearer data and invest in community-based case management that reduces ankle monitor use. Advocates argue these steps keep people in school and at work while still meeting court requirements. Federal officials counter that current tools and rules are needed to ensure compliance.

Mississippi’s role in this national picture is now impossible to ignore. With the Adams County Detention Center holding the largest daily population, local families, service providers, and clergy are dealing with the day-to-day fallout of immigration arrests — late-night calls, sudden separations, and the scramble to find legal help. The same patterns seen in Orange County, Chicago, and the Bay Area are taking root there too: alert networks, volunteer legal teams, and neighbors looking out for one another while federal enforcement continues.