San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced on August 18, 2026, that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will no longer use sheriff’s facilities for training or firearm qualifications. She cited community concerns about ICE’s conduct during armed confrontations in other parts of the country. Martinez is maintaining U.S. Customs and Border Protection access to the county’s Otay Range despite a county directive to end facility agreements with both agencies. She warned that removing CBP access could increase border delays, affect commerce and leave fewer officers staffing inspection lanes.
| 1) | ICE loses access to sheriff’s training facilities |
| 2) | Martinez distinguishes ICE from CBP |
| 3) | Border traffic drives the decision to retain CBP access |
| 4) | County officials pursue changes to federal facility agreements |
| 5) | The sheriff’s office reviews future training options |
ICE loses access to sheriff’s training facilities
The San Diego County sheriff’s office will stop allowing ICE to use its sites for training and gun qualifications. Martinez announced the decision Tuesday, August 18, after community members raised concerns about the agency’s conduct during armed confrontations elsewhere in the United States. The policy applies to sheriff’s facilities and is separate from CBP access to the Otay Range.
Martinez said the decision balances public safety with confidence in local law enforcement. She said community trust is essential to effective policing and that her authority depends on residents’ confidence. ICE was contacted for comment about the change and its potential effects on training and operations.
“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.”
Martinez distinguishes ICE from CBP
County officials are moving to terminate facility arrangements involving both ICE and CBP, but Martinez has taken different positions on the agencies’ use of county resources. She supports ending ICE’s access to sheriff’s training and qualification facilities while arguing that CBP should continue using the Otay Range.
Martinez said CBP officers need classroom instruction and gun-range qualifications. The sheriff’s office said the Otay facility is the only comparable nearby option available to CBP, while other range capacity at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is limited.
Border traffic drives the decision to retain CBP access
Martinez said she spent two weeks consulting community stakeholders before deciding that ending CBP access could affect workers, commerce and traffic across the border region. More than 225,000 people enter the United States through San Diego ports of entry each day, including more than 90,000 vehicles, 50,000 pedestrians and 5,500 commercial trucks.
Border waits generally last between one and three hours. Martinez warned that if CBP officers had to travel farther for training, they could be away from ports of entry longer, potentially reducing personnel available for inspection lanes. She also cited pollution from idling vehicles and risks to regional commerce. The effects could reach Imperial County because some CBP officers there use the Otay Range.
“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.”
County officials pursue changes to federal facility agreements
The dispute follows a directive from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors instructing the county’s chief administrative officer to have the Department of General Services terminate lease agreements with ICE and CBP. Martinez’s opposition to ending CBP access creates a policy difference between the sheriff and the broader county effort.
The county’s rationale for seeking to end the CBP arrangement was not detailed in the announcement. Officials were asked to comment on Martinez’s concerns and the reasons for pursuing the change. The immediate issue is whether CBP can continue using the Otay Range while the county reviews its agreements.
The sheriff’s office reviews future training options
The sheriff’s office is exploring future training options for federal agencies. ICE will need alternative locations for instruction and gun qualifications. Martinez’s position is that maintaining nearby range access for CBP is necessary to avoid operational disruptions at busy ports of entry.
CBP was contacted for comment on whether losing access would affect staffing or wait times. Available information does not establish whether the county will preserve, modify or end the arrangement. The matter remains tied to the broader review of agreements with federal agencies.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | ICE will no longer use sheriff’s facilities for training or gun qualifications. |
| 2 | Martinez supports continued CBP access to the Otay Range. |
| 3 | The sheriff cited border traffic, staffing and economic concerns. |
| 4 | The Board of Supervisors directed county officials to terminate agreements with both agencies. |
Summary
San Diego County’s decision-making separates ICE from CBP. Martinez has barred ICE from sheriff’s training sites while warning that ending CBP’s Otay Range access could affect border operations, travel and commerce. The county is reviewing the agreements, and the sheriff’s office is considering alternative training arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is ICE losing access to sheriff’s facilities?
Martinez cited community concerns about ICE’s conduct during armed confrontations elsewhere in the country and emphasized public trust in local policing.
Why does Martinez want CBP to retain access?
She said CBP needs nearby classroom and gun-range training, and that losing access could keep officers away from ports of entry longer, increasing wait times.
What is the county’s position on the agreements?
The Board of Supervisors directed the county’s chief administrative officer to have the Department of General Services terminate lease agreements with ICE and CBP, while Martinez opposes ending CBP access.
