Manteca residents will appear at Tuesday’s City Council to let Manteca’s elected leaders know that they do not want unmarked cars without license plates on their streets.

At 5 p.m., just prior to the 6 p.m. City Council meeting, people will gather in front of the Council Chambers at 1001 W. Center St. to demand an end to “secret cars for secret police” in Manteca.

“We intend to make a public comment during the Council meeting.” stated John Hawk, Founder of MantecaIndivisible.org.

“ICE agents and employees regularly drive in unmarked cars on public streets without vehicular license plates, claiming they are exempt from motor vehicle identification requirements,” Hawk said.

Hawk noted it is a violation of federal regulation CFR Title 41 Subtitle C Chapter 102 Subchapter B Part 102-34 Subpart C 102-34.155 (b) which states "For motor vehicles that are exempt from motor vehicle identification requirements, display the regular license plates of the State, Commonwealth, territory or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, where the motor vehicle is principally operated."

There is no exception from this provision.

Other sections of federal regulations provide exemptions from displaying U.S. government plates, vehicles used for federal purposes are required to display vehicular license plates of some kind.

Any federal officers, agents, or employees driving without vehicular license plates is in violation of both state law and federal regulations.

Hawk noted this has led to local issues:

*Avtar Singh, 57, was kidnapped from the Gurdwara Gur Nanak Parkash in Tracy on Feb. 17, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.

Surveillance footage showed three people dressed in dark clothing forcing him into a white SUV and speeding off. Initial reports in the Tracy area assumed he had been seized by ICE agents, because the kidnappers used an unmarked van without license plates.

*The doubling of ICE Agents in 2025 has resulted in a workforce which is untrained and unprofessional — resulting in deaths and injury.

Hawk said Stockton enforcement removal and operations efforts have been closely observed by civilian observers and has not had a serious injury or death.

Hawk said his group is requesting the City of Manteca and the Manteca Police Department adopt a policy of zero tolerance for outside law enforcement using unmarked cars on public streets without vehicular license plates, when in their jurisdiction.

He added violators should be cited and vehicles impounded.