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Irvine Today
By the People, for the People
ICE Expands Presence Across California, Leasing Offices in Orange County
Federal documents reveal ICE's plans to embed hundreds of new offices in cities across the state, sparking concerns from local officials.
Published on Feb. 12, 2026
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According to an explosive report by WIRED, the federal government is expanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) physical presence across California, including leasing office spaces in Irvine and Santa Ana in Orange County. This is part of a broader campaign to embed hundreds of new ICE offices in cities like Sacramento, Van Nuys, and San Diego. Local officials say they were unaware of these plans and express concerns about the lack of communication from federal agencies.
Why it matters
The expansion of ICE's physical footprint in California raises concerns about increased immigration enforcement and surveillance activities in local communities. This comes as a recent report found that a surge in ICE activity in Los Angeles County led to significant economic losses for small businesses, workers, and communities.
The details
According to the WIRED report, ICE is leasing office space at an office park in Irvine and the federal building in Santa Ana. The agency is also expanding offices in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, and San Diego, as well as installing security features at a building in Sacramento ahead of further expansion. This is part of a broader $80 billion effort under the Trump administration to more than double ICE's workforce to 22,000 officers.
- In February 2026, WIRED published an explosive report detailing ICE's plans to expand its physical presence across California.
- The report states that ICE is currently leasing office spaces in Irvine and Santa Ana in Orange County.
The players
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
The federal law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws in the United States.
Larry Agran
The mayor of Irvine, who stated that the city was unaware of ICE's plans to lease office space in the city.
What they’re saying
“This is news to me. We try to maintain some channels of communication with Border Patrol, with ICE, with Homeland Security... it's not easy to do. They're not very cooperative at all, and [not] letting us know what they're planning, what their activities consist of.”
— Larry Agran, Mayor of Irvine (The Orange County Register)
What’s next
The report indicates that ICE's expansion plans are part of a broader $80 billion effort under the Trump administration to more than double the agency's workforce to 22,000 officers. This suggests that the agency's presence in California and other states is likely to continue growing in the coming years.
The takeaway
The expansion of ICE's physical footprint in California, including the leasing of office spaces in Orange County, highlights the federal government's increased focus on immigration enforcement. This raises concerns among local officials and communities about the lack of communication and transparency from federal agencies, as well as the potential economic and social impacts of heightened immigration activities.
