State Senator Tameika Isaac DevineΒ (pictured) released the following statement regarding the approval of an ICE office in Columbia:
"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 ICEβs 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."