Lawmakers and faith leaders demand Southfield building owners cancel ICE lease

Elected officials and community members rally to pressure REDICO to end lease with US General Services Administration that houses ICE's legal team

Mar. 12, 2026 at 4:36pm

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Elected officials, faith leaders, and community members in Southfield, Michigan held a press conference and rally demanding that REDICO, the management company of One Towne Square office building, cancel the lease with the US General Services Administration that is being used by ICE's legal team. Protesters argued the lease violates the building's terms and goes against the community's values.

Why it matters

The presence of an ICE office in Southfield has sparked outrage among local leaders and residents who see it as a violation of their community's principles. This protest is part of a broader effort to limit ICE's activities in Michigan and across the country amid concerns over the agency's alleged constitutional violations and mistreatment of immigrants.

The details

REDICO confirmed the lease is with the General Services Administration, not directly with ICE, but the office will house the agency's Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, which handles legal matters. Protesters argued this still violates the building's lease terms that forbid detention or law enforcement activity. They demanded REDICO cancel the lease and urged other tenants to also pressure the building owners.

  • The lease first became public knowledge in February 2026.
  • The protest and press conference took place on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

The players

REDICO

The building management company of One Towne Square in Southfield, Michigan where the ICE office is located.

US Rep. Rashida Tlaib

A Democratic congresswoman representing parts of Detroit, including Southfield.

Lauren Fink

A member of the Southfield Neighbors Action Committee, a local community group.

Father Chris Yaw

A priest at St. David's Episcopal Church in Southfield.

State Sen. Jeremy Moss

A Democratic state senator representing Southfield and surrounding areas.

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What they’re saying

“ICE is leasing a new office here, I hate even calling it an office, a deportation machine here in Southfield, to fill it up with lawyers and administrators who will carry out this fascist police state.”

— US Rep. Rashida Tlaib

“They say that they're proud to be headquartered here in Southfield. They say that they love Southfield too. We've got a great idea for how they can show it.”

— Lauren Fink, Member, Southfield Neighbors Action Committee

“The owners of this building have said clearly that their lease allows general office use and forbids detention or law enforcement activity. We welcome the transparency, we welcome the clarity, we welcome conversation. But I'm here to say that law enforcement activity means ICE lawyers working to arrest, detain and ship out our neighbors. And I join my friends here in asking this landlord: Enforce this lease. Exercise your option to send these lawyers packing because they've broken your agreement.”

— Father Chris Yaw, Priest, St. David's Episcopal Church

“This ICE office does not represent our community's values. We want ICE out of Southfield. We want ICE out of Oakland County. We want ICE out of metro Detroit. We want ICE out of the state of Michigan.”

— State Sen. Jeremy Moss

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow REDICO to cancel the lease with the US General Services Administration.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the growing opposition to ICE's presence in local communities across the country, as elected officials, faith leaders, and residents demand their neighborhoods remain free of the agency's enforcement activities which they view as violating civil liberties and going against their values.