San Diego County Ends Training for Federal Immigration Authorities at Local Firing Range

Decision to End Training Facility Contracts

San Diego County supervisors voted 3-2 to end agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These contracts allowed the agencies to use county-owned training facilities near the Mexican border and a Navy site leased by the county. This decision reflects concerns about the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies.

Community and Supervisor Reactions

Monica Montgomery Steppe, a county supervisor, emphasized that federal immigration agents have negatively impacted local communities. This decision highlights the desire not to be complicit in such actions. County Sheriff Kelly Martinez, after dialogues and public feedback, informed ICE that they could no longer access the facilities. However, she supports CBP’s continuing use of a county facility, potentially setting up a dispute with the supervisors.

According to Martinez, CBP plays a crucial role in combating border crime and facilitating trade and travel. “Too many people on both sides of the border would be harmed by a decision to end CBP’s use of the facility,” she stated.

Community Concerns and Board Decisions

The vote came after extensive public pressure from residents of the 3-million-strong border county. Residents sought to cut assistance to the Trump administration’s deportation efforts, which have caused family separations and deadly clashes between agents and civilians nationwide.

Some communities, including Escondido and regions in New York and Minnesota, faced similar decisions but chose to maintain contracts with immigration agencies. Jim Desmond, another supervisor, argued against the move, indicating that training is key to addressing agency overreach. He voiced concerns about the distance agents would need to travel for training.

Federal Agency Perspectives

Rodney Scott, leading CBP, indicated the importance of the county’s firing range. The facility provides essential training for 1,700 officers, and relocating them might affect border operations. “It is unprecedented for a local partner to knowingly undermine border security,” he stated.

ICE had not responded to inquiries about the decision. Agreements with the county have been in place for ICE since 2021 and for CBP since 2017. Supervisors noted that over 3,300 training hours have taken place in county facilities since 2024.

Support for Local Communities

Those who supported ending the contracts aim to protect the trust of immigrant communities. Efforts have been made to clearly separate local police from federal immigration enforcers, especially when enforcers operate in plain clothes.

Board chair Terra Lawson-Remer remarked, “Our community is a home, not a target.” She co-proposed ending the contracts to challenge the federal government’s approach. “If the administration wants to fund deportation agendas, they should use federal resources,” she stated.