A "check-in" is a regular contact with ICE required of people released from custody or in the middle of an immigration case. There are two forms, and they are often confused. The first is monitoring under ISAP (the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, part of Alternatives to Detention): a check-in through an app, by phone, or with a GPS device, administered by ICE's contractor, BI. The second is an in-person appointment at an ICE ERO field office. ICE sets the program, the form, and the frequency.
Status as of July 12, 2026. Through 2025 and 2026, check-ins stopped being routine: arrests at in-person ICE office appointments have risen. According to a data analysis by Mission Local, at least 539 people were arrested at routine immigration appointments in San Francisco alone over nine months, from January to October 2025. The frequency of required check-ins has also increased overall — annual check-ins are rarer, and semiannual, quarterly, or monthly ones are more common. The situation is changing quickly.
How ISAP monitoring works
ISAP is the main Alternatives to Detention program. As ICE describes it, it uses three monitoring technologies: telephonic reporting (via a voiceprint), GPS monitoring (an ankle or wrist device), and the SmartLINK mobile app. The app is the most widely used tool: at check-in it compares a selfie against photos taken at enrollment and records a single GPS point at the scheduled check-in; according to ICE, there is no persistent tracking through SmartLINK. The program is administered by the contractor BI, not by ICE officers themselves. ISAP services are free to the participant — the government pays. A deportation officer sets the level of supervision and the frequency, and reviews them periodically.
In-person appointments at an ICE ERO field office
The second form is an appointment at an ICE ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations) field office. In essence it confirms identity, current address, and contact information; the officer also reviews the case status and compliance with release conditions. The specific documents are listed in the appointment notice itself — usually a photo ID, the notice, and paperwork for the current case. ICE describes the procedure for office check-ins on its portal (portal.ice.gov). It is at these in-person appointments that the risk of detention has been concentrated in 2025–2026 (see the note above). If someone is detained at a check-in, they can be located through the ICE online locator — How to Find Someone Detained by ICE (ICE locator). How detention, bond, and the removal process work overall is covered in the Detention & Deportation section.
Can ICE detain you at a check-in?
Yes, it is possible, and it has become more common in 2025–2026. According to Mission Local's analysis, a significant share of immigration arrests in some cities occurred at routine appointments. The risk is higher for people with a final order of removal; there is no universal guarantee that a detention will not happen.
What happens if you miss a check-in?
Missing a scheduled check-in without good cause is generally treated as a violation of release conditions and may lead to enforcement action, including an administrative warrant of arrest. Missing court hearings, in turn, can lead to a removal order issued in the person's absence. When check-ins are missed, ISAP automatically generates an alert to the officer.
What does it mean if a check-in is canceled or rescheduled?
A change in the date or form of a check-in — for example, moving from an office appointment to the app — is a routine decision within ICE's discretion. Notice of the new date or form comes from ICE or the contractor. The cancellation of a single appointment does not by itself mean that monitoring has ended.
Is there a charge for the app or the device?
No. According to ICE, ISAP services and equipment are free to the participant — the government covers all costs. If a person does not have their own smartphone, they may be issued a device solely for running the SmartLINK app.