San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced Tuesday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will no longer be permitted to use county sheriff's facilities for training or gun qualifications. The decision stems from community concerns regarding ICE's conduct during armed confrontations in other parts of the country.
Martinez, however, will continue to allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to utilize the county's Otay Range. She expressed that severing ties with CBP could negatively impact border wait times, regional commerce, and the flow of workers and traffic, citing figures that over 225,000 people and 90,000 vehicles enter the U.S. through San Diego ports of entry daily.
"Community trust and strong relationships are the cornerstone of effective local policing," Martinez stated. "Our authority to enforce the law depends on the trust and confidence of the communities we serve, and I always balance my decisions based on community trust and public safety."
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors had previously directed the county's chief administrative officer to terminate lease agreements with both ICE and CBP. Martinez's stance on CBP differs, as she believes restricting their access could harm commerce and increase pollution from idling vehicles. Some CBP officers in Imperial County also use the Otay Range for training, according to the sheriff's office.
CBP officers are required to undergo classroom instruction and live-fire qualifications as part of their training. The sheriff's office noted that losing access to local facilities could lead to CBP officers being away from ports of entry for extended periods, potentially reducing staffing for inspection lanes. Comparable training facilities for CBP are scarce in the area, with limited options at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Martinez warned that a decision to end CBP's use of the facility would harm numerous individuals on both sides of the border, emphasizing her duty "to protect and serve everyone who lives in or enters San Diego County."
The sheriff's office is reportedly exploring alternative training options for the future.