San Diego County splits over ban on ICE training at local firing ranges

Key points

• The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on August 18, 2026, to terminate lease agreements with ICE and CBP for firearms training facilities.
• Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced that ICE will no longer have access to sheriff’s facilities for training or gun qualifications, citing community concerns.
• Martinez opposes cutting CBP access, warning that losing the Otay Range could increase border wait times and hurt regional commerce.
• The county has logged approximately 3,350 hours of federal immigration agent training at the Otay Mesa facility since 2024.
• The contracts, signed in 2021 and 2017, were approved administratively without board vote and generate about $126,780 in annual revenue.
• ICE acting director David Venturella criticized the decision as prioritizing politics over safety, while CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott warned of economic harm to border ports.

Background

This decision follows a broader trend of local jurisdictions restricting federal immigration access, including New York’s mask ban for federal agents in August 2026 and San Diego County’s January 2026 CLEAR ordinance limiting federal agent access to non-public spaces. It also follows a surge in immigration arrests in San Diego County, with over 16,000 removals between January 2025 and April 2026, and high-profile raids in 2025 that sparked public outcry.

How outlets are covering it

Supporters, including Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre, argue that county facilities should not support federal immigration operations that generate fear and violate civil liberties. Opponents, including Supervisors Jim Desmond and Joel Anderson, and federal officials like CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott, warn that cutting training access could disrupt border operations, increase wait times, and harm the regional economy. Sheriff Kelly Martinez supports the ICE ban but opposes cutting CBP access, citing community trust and border safety concerns.

Why it matters

The decision highlights growing tensions between local governments and federal immigration enforcement, with potential implications for border operations, community trust, and the use of public resources for federal agencies. It also reflects broader debates over the balance between local autonomy and federal authority in immigration enforcement.

What to watch

The county is exploring alternative training options for CBP, while federal officials may seek legal or political recourse. The decision could influence similar debates in other jurisdictions and set a precedent for local restrictions on federal immigration access.