On Thursday night, in the town of Stockton, a police supervisor along with eight officers, all outfitted with face guards, batons, and non-lethal weaponry, provided reinforcement for vehicles departing from the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. This law enforcement presence at the federal institution was connected to an ICE operation earlier in the day at a Home Depot in Sacramento. A non-profit organization, Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities, whose goal is to foster growth and security within Southeast Asian communities in Stockton and Central Valley, contended that the Sacramento convicts were relocated to Stockton. This action incited peaceful demonstrators to gather at 2 p.m. on 603 San Juan Ave, home to the ICE field office.
Promptly at 6 p.m., the Stockton Police Department dispatched its forces to the field office, following a report of approximately 20 demonstrators impeding entrance and exit routes. A police helicopter survey confirmed the presence of protesters, with a notable group obstructing drive paths. Law enforcement officers arrived on site at 7:15 p.m., and by then, the number of demonstrators had dwindled down to just eight. Policemen maintained a protective stance, ensuring the driveways remained unobstructed and enabling vehicles to leave. As of Friday afternoon, the department hadn’t yet implemented a response.
When President Trump enacted a number of executive orders upon assuming office, one of them being a stringent action against illegal immigration, the local law enforcement agencies in Stockton and San Joaquin County reacted by declaring their compliance with state law, vowing to refrain from facilitating federal immigration law enforcement in the region. In a statement made in January, the Stockton Police Department made it clear, ‘We hold our heads high over our methodology of refraining from enforcing immigration laws. In staying true to our established policy, we won’t be of any assistance to federal agencies strictly enforcing immigration rules. We believe this stance fortifies the trust and security we’ve worked tirelessly to develop within our community.’
As vehicles were departing from the ICE field office, demonstrators gathered near the footpath and traffic circle, chanting ‘Shame on you!’ and carrying signs advocating for the abolition of ICE and prioritizing dignity over incarceration. Stockton Police directed the protesters to make way as the vehicles moved out. The officers cleared the area at 7:29 p.m. It is noteworthy that the demonstrators didn’t hinder any vehicles leaving the premises.
The wife identified an arrested U.S. citizen as Jose Castillo. His whereabouts were later traced back to the ICE field office in Stockton. During the Stockton protest, a man identifying himself as Castillo exited the ICE field office around 4 p.m., with a visible injury to his eye. However, he denied disclosing his identity or addressing the media.
Rhodesia Ransom, an Assemblymember from Tracy (a Democratic party affiliate), sent a correspondence to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, voicing her concern about the presence and the role of Border Patrol agents in ICE operations. Ransom questioned the lawfulness of these procedures and asked for an examination for possible violations of state or federal laws or constitutional rights. The Assemblymember questioned the jurisdiction of U.S. Border Patrol agents in such actions. ‘Border Patrol generally operates within a 100-mile radius of the U.S. border – but Sacramento and Stockton are both a significant distance of around 300 miles from the closest border. What is the basis for their collaboration with ICE? Does their involvement have legitimate authorization?’ she argued.
According to the Immigration and Nationality Act, immigration officers possess extensive rights to manage their enforcement actions, including conducting stops and investigations, within a ‘reasonable distance’ from any U.S. boundary or coastline. This distance has been set at 100 air miles as per the regulation, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
After the Stockton Police DBepartment exited from the premises of the ICE field office, District 4 Councilmember Mario Enríquez, whose territory contains the building, came and interacted with the alarmed residents who had observed the entire incident unfold. Enríquez stated that constituents had reached out to him via emails, urging his presence at the location. In his words, ‘People are raising questions that require definite answers. Everyone has a right to feel safe and it’s my duty to ensure our people aren’t living in fear due to these ongoing events. And to be honest, I find the whole situation deeply unsettling.’