Additional Coverage:
- California sheriff blocks ICE from firing range, training facilities but keeps CBP access (foxnews.com)
San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced on Tuesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will no longer be permitted to use county sheriff facilities for training or firearms qualifications. This decision comes amid community concerns about ICE’s conduct during armed confrontations in other parts of the country.
Sheriff Martinez made a clear distinction between ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), stating that while ICE’s access to county facilities will be revoked, CBP will continue to use the Otay Range for training. Martinez emphasized that restricting CBP could negatively impact border wait times and the regional economy.
“Community trust and strong relationships are the cornerstone of effective local policing,” Martinez said. “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 has directed the county’s chief administrative officer to terminate lease agreements with both ICE and CBP. However, Martinez expressed opposition to ending CBP’s facility access, citing extensive consultations with community stakeholders over the past two weeks. She warned that restricting CBP could disrupt commerce, affect workers, and exacerbate traffic issues across the border region.
San Diego ports of entry see more than 225,000 people crossing daily, including over 90,000 vehicles, 50,000 pedestrians, and 5,500 commercial trucks. Typical border wait times range from one to three hours, according to the sheriff’s office.
CBP officers are required to complete both classroom instruction and firearms training as part of their duties. Martinez argued that removing nearby training facilities would force officers to spend more time away from inspection lanes, potentially reducing staffing at border checkpoints. The sheriff’s office noted that CBP lacks comparable training venues in the area, and that available ranges at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar have limited capacity.
Martinez also highlighted that longer wait times could lead to increased pollution from idling vehicles and could impact Imperial County, where some CBP officers also use the Otay Range.
In response to inquiries, both ICE and CBP have been contacted for comments regarding the implications of Martinez’s decision.
“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. “As sheriff, I have a duty to protect and serve everyone who lives in or enters San Diego County.” The sheriff’s office is currently exploring alternative training options moving forward.