San Diego County Sheriff Bans ICE From Training Facilities

San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced Tuesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement will no longer be permitted to use county facilities for training or gun qualifications, citing ongoing community concerns regarding the agency's conduct during armed confrontations.

Martinez emphasized that local policing relies heavily on community confidence, stating that "community trust and strong relationships are the cornerstone of effective local policing" when explaining the policy shift away from ICE resources.

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While restricting ICE, Martinez carved out a distinct approach for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, opting to maintain their access to the county's Otay Range to prevent potential disruptions to regional commerce and cross-border traffic.

The sheriff warned that cutting off CBP access could severely impact border wait times, which already manage hundreds of thousands of daily commuters, commercial trucks, and pedestrians crossing through the region.

Balancing Public Safety And Regional Commerce

"Too many people on both sides of the border would be harmed by a decision to end CBP's use of the facility," Martinez said, highlighting her administrative duty to safeguard public safety and local economic stability.

The decision comes as the San Diego County Board of Supervisors directs administrative steps to review and terminate broader lease agreements involving federal immigration training and operational infrastructure.

CBP personnel rely heavily on local gun range qualifications and classroom instruction to maintain active staffing levels at major ports of entry throughout the bustling southern border corridor.

According to the sheriff's office, losing local training access would pull officers away from inspection lanes for extended periods, as alternative options at military installations like Marine Corps Air Station Miramar remain limited.