ICE to open office in Westerville
Federal immigration authorities appear to be expanding their footprint in central Ohio, with a new office lease in Westerville linked to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to federal leasing records, the General Services Administration began leasing space at 774 Park Meadow Road in Westerville on Oct. 30. The lease runs through Oct. 29, 2030, at an annual cost of $257,758.
The General Services Administration, which handles federal property and leasing agreements, had previously sought proposals for new office space in Columbus and 18 other cities to support law enforcement operations.
Reporting by Wired indicates the new Westerville lease will house the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), the largest legal division within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Online listings also show the address as an OPLA office location.
OPLA attorneys represent ICE and the Department of Homeland Security in immigration court proceedings, including deportation hearings.
The new office is located on the same street as ICE’s existing Westerville field office at 675 Brooksedge Blvd., which functions as a regional operations hub. If OPLA relocates to the Park Meadow Road site, the two offices would serve separate roles — one focused on enforcement operations and the other on legal proceedings.
County property records show the Park Meadow Road building underwent federally contracted improvements around the start of the lease. The property is owned by Nationwide Realty Investors and also houses private business offices.
ICE and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment.
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