As first covered by Wired, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reported to be leasing office space in Irvine and neighboring Santa Ana. The Irvine property at 2020 Main Street is off the 405 Freeway, across from John Wayne Airport and around a 10 to 15 minute drive from UC Irvine’s campus.
Irvine Mayor Larry Agran told the Orange County Register that he was unaware of the local ICE leases.
“We try to maintain some channels of communication with Border Patrol, with ICE, with Homeland Security,” Agran said. “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.”
Both the Irvine and Santa Ana leases are listed in a public inventory of federal property. Although the database does not list how the agency will use the building, Wired reported that street-level ICE agents and attorneys will use the offices.
These offices are part of the 150 leases and expansions by ICE across the nation, reported by Wired. The article also states that Homeland Security officials had asked lease listings to be hidden on federal databases due to security concerns — ignoring standard procedures.
“Obviously, we try to understand what ICE is doing, and where in Orange County and, of course, we’re always concerned about what their activities might be in the city of Irvine,” Agran told the Register. “So this suggests more than a temporary presence is coming here in Orange County and in Irvine.”
The expansion of ICE’s physical presence follows an increase in its budget from less than $6 billion to $85 billion after the One Big Beautiful Bill was enacted in July. ICE is now the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency, according to NPR.
The Register also reported that the Irvine Police Department learned of the potential federal lease through the Wired article and does not have further details on the privately owned high-rise building.
UCI has stated that if immigration enforcement is confirmed on campus, the university will notify the campus community through ZotMail or zotALERT. As part of a state law that was passed last year, UC schools are required to notify the campus community when the school confirms the presence of immigration enforcement on campus.
UCI’s Office of Global Engagement has reinforced in years past that University Police Officers will not assist immigration officers in apprehending individuals on campus. UCI School of Law also collaborates with the Orange County Rapid Response Network through its Immigrant and Racial Solidarity Justice Clinic, and in past years, has represented youth referred to ICE by juvenile probation officials.
The clinic continues to “examine the role and effects of ICE surveillance,” according to their website, and offers immigration guidance and confidential legal support to students.
Emilie Takahashi is a 2025-2026 Layout Editor. She can be reached at takahae1@uci.edu.
