SC leaders respond to news of ICE office coming to Columbia

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– Leaders in South Carolina are responding to the news of an ICE office in downtown Columbia.

Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette responded to the news of Immigration and Customs Enforcement coming to the Midlands with a post on ‘X’.

Evette says “the new ICE office in downtown Columbia strengthens our commitment to keeping sanctuary cities and illegal immigrants out of the state”.

Evette also stated that law and order in South Carolina isn’t optional.

City of Columbia’s Councilman at-large Tyler Bailey released a state on the news with a post on Facebook.

His post on Facebook made mention of the federal government signing a secret 10-year lease to open an ICE office in Downtown Columbia, and not telling any city leader.

Read Bailey’s full statement below:

Representative Hamilton R. Grant released a statement about the information of ICE coming to Columbia.

Grant made his feelings known about the decision in a post.

Read the full statement below:

Statement from Senator Tameika Isaac Devine:

“I strongly condemn the secretive approval of an ICE office lease in Columbia without notice to local officials or community stakeholders. Actions that affect public safety and community trust should never be done behind closed doors. Our city deserves transparency, local oversight, and meaningful consultation, not backroom decisions that leave residents in the dark.

I do not support ICE’s enforcement approach or the expansion of its footprint in our communities. These tactics too often undermine trust, create fear among immigrant families, and weaken cooperation with local institutions and law enforcement. Columbia should be focused on policies that protect civil rights, strengthen neighborhoods, and keep families safe, not unilateral federal moves that do the opposite.”

ICE sent a statement to ABC Columbia that can be read below: 

“ICE will not confirm office locations as our officers are facing a coordinated campaign of violence against them including an 8,000% increase in death threats against them and a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them. Is it really news that when a federal agency hires more personnel that they need more space? Thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill, we have an additional 12,000 ICE officers and agents on the ground across the country. That’s a 120% increase in our workforce.”

City of Columbia Releases Statement Regarding Federal Office Located in Privately Owned Downtown Building:

“The City of Columbia was not made aware in advance of the recent federal action by the General Services Administration (GSA) establishing an additional office presence in our community.

The building where the office is located is privately owned, and the City of Columbia would not have prior knowledge of, or involvement in, private lease agreements executed between property owners and federal agencies. As such, the City of Columbia was not part of this leasing decision.

Although the chosen location of this office is not preferred or ideal and is reported to be administrative in nature, federal agencies operate independently and private property transactions occur outside the City’s purview. Even so, communication and coordination with local jurisdictions remain critically important. We would have appreciated prior notification and engagement with our Columbia Police Department and City of Columbia leadership to ensure awareness and preparedness.

While we have expressed our concerns regarding the location of this office, we remain focused on our utmost priority, which is maintaining the safety, trust, and well-being of our City of Columbia community.”