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ICE OPLA Office — $4.3M 10-Year Lease for Legal Arm in Downtown Columbia

Richland, SC FIPS 45079
office space (not detention beds)
Bed capacity
Operator: ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor

Overview

ICE opened a new Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) in downtown Columbia in early 2026, with a 10-year, $4.3 million lease at 1441 Main Street. OPLA handles immigration removal proceedings and litigates all removal cases. The office was secured without notifying City of Columbia officials.

Key Details

Contract:

  • $4.3M over 10 years awarded October 2025 to the building owners.
  • OPLA serves as the exclusive DHS representative in immigration court removal proceedings.

Context:

  • Part of a nationwide rush: 150+ leases and office expansions creating ICE presence in nearly every state.
  • Columbia already has an ICE presence at the Strom Thurmond Federal Building (hold room) and through the Atlanta AOR field office.
  • Establishing OPLA locally means removal cases can be litigated without transporting detainees or attorneys to Atlanta.

Political Fallout:

  • City of Columbia officials said they were never notified by DHS or ICE.
  • Fallout continued at council meetings in February 2026.
  • A protest was planned outside the new office space in February 2026.

Why This Matters

The OPLA office signals ICE’s intention to make Columbia a permanent enforcement hub for the Midlands, not just a pass-through. Having local removal litigation capacity reduces the logistical friction of deportation — detainees don’t need to be transferred to Atlanta for hearings. Combined with the Strom Thurmond hold room, the Lexington County churning jail, and 37 statewide 287(g) agreements, this creates a full-stack enforcement infrastructure in central South Carolina.

Sources

Edit Report issue County profile
Last updated: Apr 13, 2026