Are federal immigration agents in Columbia? Here’s what we know.
As federal immigration enforcement agents took to Charlotte, N.C., arresting more than 130 people this weekend, reports on social media claimed that agents had been spotted in Columbia.
So far, much of what has been reported online have just been rumors or possibly other law enforcement misidentified as Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, advocates say. But speculation, quick spreading stories and the fact that ICE officers often do not identify themselves have made it difficult to verify whether the federal agency is operating in Columbia.
Ivan Segura, a community activist in Columbia, confirmed to The State that his nonprofit group had received nearly 30 calls related to immigration enforcement operations, but was only able to verify one – a confirmed spotting off of Two Notch Road on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the S.C. Commission of Minority Affairs said their office had not received any calls related to ICE arrests or spottings.
“We know that ICE has been in Columbia for months, that’s not new,” Segura said. “This isn’t out of the norm from what we’ve seen other the last few months.”
Segura noted that most instances where people reported seeing ICE were either when the agency was targeting specific individuals or when agents from other departments were being confused for ICE officers. He said the agency’s approach hadn’t changed, but that the community had been more anxious as a result of the activity in Charlotte. His group has seen an uptick in calls this week, he said.
Several law enforcement agencies across the state, including the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, have agreed to participate in the 287(g) program. Named for a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the program grants local law enforcement agencies power to enforce immigration law.
When reached by a reporter with The State, a spokesperson with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department said he was not aware of any activity and pointed the reporter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A spokesperson for ICE did not immediately respond to a request for information.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department hasn’t been contacted by DHS for assistance, a spokesperson said.
Multiple unverified social media posts claimed ICE agents had been spotted at work sites in Blythewood and northeast Columbia, causing workers to flee.
One video showed what appeared to be federal agents gathering in the parking lot of Columbiana Mall. The State was unable to confirm whether the officers seen in the video were immigration enforcement agents.
“That one had nothing to do with ICE,” Segura said. “But because of how ICE does things, how they dress, it’s hard to tell sometimes.”
Identification has proven to be a challenge as ICE officers often go to great lengths to conceal their agency and identities. Unlike most law enforcement, ICE officers often do not identity themselves. Reports from other cities have shown them wearing non-standard plain clothes or tactical gear, routinely wearing masks and using unmarked cars.
The wide-reaching and highly publicized arrests of undocumented immigrants is a major initiative for President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a promise of mass deportations.
Last week, ICE began an immigration enforcement operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, roughly 90 minutes north of Columbia. Named “Operation Charlotte’s Web,” the federal immigration enforcement agency reported on Tuesday that they had detained 44 undocumented immigrants of the 130 people it arrested.
The U.S. Border Patrol is leaving the Charlotte area, the Charlotte Observer reported Thursday afternoon. ICE will continue working in the area, the Observer said.
The operation in Charlotte follows controversial operations in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago and Memphis, where federal agents have conducted arrests and clashed with onlookers and protestors.
This story was originally published November 20, 2025 at 12:35 PM.
