THE FOLLOW UP
STATEMENT

ICE's Principal Legal Advisor role reportedly involved oversight of over 3,500 attorneys and support staff

False

Credible evidence contradicts the statement. Learn more in Methodology.

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Confirm that during his tenure as ICE’s Principal Legal Advisor, Mr. Wall oversaw a staff of more than 3,500 attorneys and support personnel.

Source summary
Secretary Kristi Noem announced on January 15, 2026 that Charles Wall will serve immediately as Deputy Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Wall previously served as ICE’s Principal Legal Advisor, overseeing more than 3,500 attorneys and staff, and has worked at ICE since 2012. Before joining ICE he was a prosecutor and Senior Assistant District Attorney in Orleans Parish (2009–2012), and he holds a B.A. from the University of New Orleans and a J.D. from Tulane Law School.
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Latest fact check

ICE's Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) page (updated 12/15/2025) states OPLA is "the largest legal program in DHS, with more than 1,700 attorneys and nearly 300 support personnel," and the Principal Legal Advisor entry on ICE.gov says Mr. Wall "oversees a staff of over 2,000 attorneys and support personnel." These official ICE figures (~2,000 total) contradict the claim that he oversaw "over 3,500" attorneys and support personnel. Verdict: False — ICE's official pages indicate the workforce is roughly 2,000, not over 3,500, so the statement overstates the staff size.

Sources

Timeline

  1. Update · Jan 16, 2026, 04:47 AMFalse
    ICE's Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) page (updated 12/15/2025) states OPLA is "the largest legal program in DHS, with more than 1,700 attorneys and nearly 300 support personnel," and the Principal Legal Advisor entry on ICE.gov says Mr. Wall "oversees a staff of over 2,000 attorneys and support personnel." These official ICE figures (~2,000 total) contradict the claim that he oversaw "over 3,500" attorneys and support personnel. Verdict: False — ICE's official pages indicate the workforce is roughly 2,000, not over 3,500, so the statement overstates the staff size.
  2. Original article · Jan 15, 2026
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