(PANTON, VERMONT) A Panton resident, Juan De La Cruz, avoided deportation after an ICE check-in in early October 2025 and will be allowed to remain in his hometown for at least another six months, according to his attorney and supporters who gathered outside the St. Albans field office. De La Cruz, a Mexican national who has lived in the United States for more than two decades and has a pending asylum case filed in 2017, was told by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that he would not be detained at this time. He must return for in-person check-ins every six months while his case continues, with his next immigration court hearing set for December 2026.
The outcome followed a tense morning in St. Albans. Federal immigration authorities had ordered De La Cruz to appear for a check-in at the local ICE office, a step that often determines whether someone is detained pending removal. Fearing immediate detention, De La Cruz and his family met with an attorney who warned there was a real risk of removal. Roughly 200 community members, friends, and supporters stood outside the building in a public show of support.
After about 20 minutes inside, De La Cruz walked out and shared the news: no detention, no deportation at this time, and a schedule of regular reporting in person.
What happened at the ICE check-in
The October appointment in St. Albans was a mandated ICE check-in tied to De La Cruz’s open immigration case. He complied with the order to appear in person. Inside, officials reviewed his situation and directed him to continue reporting at six-month intervals.
He left the building without being detained and without a removal order executed that day. His immediate next step is to return for another check-in in six months.
Outside, the scene was striking for a small Vermont community. About 200 people — neighbors from Panton, faith leaders, local advocates, and friends — came to stand with the family. Their message was simple: De La Cruz is part of the community, and they want him to stay while his asylum case moves forward.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, local support networks often mobilize when ICE reporting dates raise fears of detention, and those visible shows of community care can help families cope with uncertainty.
“The crowd reflected both neighborly solidarity and growing concern over immigration enforcement decisions that can separate families and uproot long-settled lives.”
Key facts (confirmed by those present and case documents)
- Name: Juan De La Cruz
- Residence: Panton, Vermont
- Background: Mexican national; in the United States for more than 20 years; applied for asylum in 2017
- ICE action: Ordered to appear for an ICE check-in in October 2025 in St. Albans
- Outcome: Not detained or removed; must return for in-person check-ins every six months
- Next steps: Next ICE reporting in six months; immigration court hearing in December 2026
- Community response: Approximately 200 supporters gathered outside the field office
The family’s relief was tempered by the reality that the case remains active. The order to keep checking in every six months signals that the government will continue to review his situation. For many noncitizens with pending cases, these recurring appointments can stretch for years, creating a cycle of brief relief followed by renewed anxiety ahead of the next appointment.
Broader context and what comes next
De La Cruz’s case reflects the personal stakes of current enforcement practices amid ongoing deportation efforts. While the decision not to detain him provides short-term stability, the structure of recurring in-person check-ins highlights how immigration supervision works for many people with pending claims.
The process can keep families in limbo: work, school, and community life continue, but each check-in date carries fresh worry about possible detention or removal.
Community involvement played a visible role on the day of the check-in. Residents from Panton and surrounding towns said they came to show that their neighbor is not alone. For many families, public support during an ICE appointment can make a stressful process feel more manageable.
The show of solidarity outside the St. Albans office also mirrors broader trends in which local networks rally around long-time residents facing deportation risks after routine check-ins.
VisaVerge.com reports that cases like this often draw attention because they illustrate both the structure of enforcement and the space for discretion. An order to detain can follow a routine check-in, but so can continued supervision. In De La Cruz’s situation, the decision landed in the middle: not a green light for permanent stay, not a removal, but a six-month extension to live and work in his community while the court date approaches.
Immediate status and next steps (summary)
- Immediate status: Not detained; no deportation action taken at the October check-in
- Reporting requirement: In-person ICE check-in every six months
- Court date: Immigration court hearing in December 2026
The family’s attorney will continue preparing filings and gathering records that relate to his long residence in the United States and the asylum claim he made in 2017. While the decision offers breathing room, it does not change the court timeline already on the calendar.
For readers who want background on how ICE field offices handle check-ins, the agency provides general information for people with active cases on its official site. You can find that resource here: ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations – Check-in. This page explains where to report and how to confirm reporting details. It does not change the facts of individual cases, which depend on each person’s file and the decisions made by officers and immigration courts.
Human impact and local reaction
The Panton case has prompted discussion in local circles about the human cost of long waits in the immigration system. Families can spend years attending school events, working steady jobs, and paying rent or mortgages, all while holding their breath every six months.
- Jobs can be disrupted if a check-in leads to detention.
- Children often carry the stress home from school as parents mark calendars and prepare documents for the next reporting date.
- Even when a person walks out of the office, relief lasts only until the next appointment letter arrives.
At the same time, supporters say the response in St. Albans shows the strength of small-town ties. De La Cruz’s neighbors emphasized his two decades in the United States and his role in community life. While legal decisions will come from federal authorities and the immigration court, those who gathered outside the building wanted officials to see the human side of the file: a person with roots, relationships, and responsibilities in Vermont.
As the calendar turns, De La Cruz and his family will prepare again for the next trip north from Panton to St. Albans. The last check-in lasted roughly 20 minutes. The crowd waiting outside stayed until he emerged with the news they had hoped to hear. And, for at least half a year, life in Panton will continue much as before: school runs, shifts at work, and neighbors waving from porches, even as the family keeps one eye on the mailbox for the next letter from ICE.
This Article in a Nutshell
Juan De La Cruz, a Mexican national and long-time Panton resident who filed for asylum in 2017, attended a mandated ICE check-in in St. Albans in October 2025. ICE officers reviewed his open case and decided not to detain or remove him at that time, instead requiring in-person reporting every six months. His next immigration court hearing is set for December 2026. Approximately 200 community members, including neighbors and faith leaders, gathered outside the field office in a public show of support. The outcome provides temporary relief but leaves the family in ongoing legal uncertainty as they prepare for future check-ins and the court date.
