San Diego County supervisors and a U.S. Senator were denied access Friday to the Otay Mesa Detention Center, despite prior notification to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The attempted inspection would have been the first full inspection of a private detention facility under a 2024 California state law.
Access Denied
Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre, along with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, were barred from entering the facility. A county health inspector was permitted to view the kitchen and medical bays, but was not granted access to medical records, policies, or the ability to speak with detainees.
Lawson-Remer stated at a news conference that she and Aguirre were discussing legal options to compel access. Padilla expressed disappointment but indicated he was not surprised by the denial.
Around 1,400 immigrants are currently held at the facility, which is owned and operated by CoreCivic under contract with the U.S. Government. The denial of access follows previous instances of lawmakers being turned away from ICE facilities in San Diego.
Rep. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, was denied entry on February 6, despite a recent federal judge’s ruling that a seven-day notice policy for inspections likely violated federal law. In October, Vargas and other members of San Diego’s congressional delegation were twice denied access to an ICE holding facility downtown.
The supervisors’ attempt to inspect the facility came after reports of concerning conditions, including notes from detainees describing a lack of fresh food and illness, which were shared via lotion bottles over the facility’s fencing.
ICE issued a memo earlier this year requiring seven days’ advance notice for inspections, a policy temporarily blocked by a federal judge, though the ruling currently applies only to the lawmakers involved in the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the 2024 state law?
The 2024 state law allows California counties to inspect private detention facilities, and Friday’s attempted inspection of Otay Mesa was to be the first full inspection under the new law.
How many people have died in ICE custody this year?
Since the beginning of this year, eight people have died in ICE custody in Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Indiana and Florida.
What action are the supervisors considering?
Terra Lawson-Remer stated she would ask her colleagues on the Board of Supervisors to take legal action to force a future inspection.
Given the ongoing denials of access and the concerns raised about conditions within the facility, what steps will be taken to ensure independent oversight of immigration detention centers?
