Escondido Community Members Rally Against City's ICE Contract

Protesters call for city to dissolve agreement that allows federal agents to train at local police facility

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Community members in Escondido, California have been protesting the city's contract with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that allows federal agents to train at a local police facility. The Escondido Democratic Party and other activists argue the contract diminishes the credibility and training of Escondido police officers, and they want the city to dissolve the agreement.

Why it matters

The ongoing protests highlight the tensions in Escondido over the city's relationship with federal immigration enforcement agencies. While some community members see the contract as a threat to public safety and community trust in local police, city officials argue dissolving the agreement could make Escondido a "mini-Minneapolis" and disrupt important law enforcement training.

The details

The contract between Escondido and DHS/ICE has been in place since 2013, with the current extension running through January 2027. During a recent City Council meeting, Councilmember Consuelo Martinez introduced a motion to end the contract, but it did not receive a second and therefore did not come up for a vote. Councilmember Joe Garcia, who represents District 2, said he shares the community's concerns about ICE but believes the situation is being misrepresented by some activists.

  • The Escondido Mariachi Festival, which celebrates Mexican culture, was held on Sunday, March 9, 2026.
  • The current contract extension between Escondido and DHS/ICE is set to run through January 2027.
  • The contract will be up for renewal in October 2026.

The players

Maria Wallace

Member of the Escondido Democratic Party.

Georgina Tomasi

President of the Escondido Democratic Party.

Councilmember Consuelo Martinez

Escondido City Council member who introduced a motion to dissolve the contract with DHS/ICE.

Councilmember Joe Garcia

Escondido City Council member who represents District 2 and believes dissolving the contract could make Escondido a "mini-Minneapolis."

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What they’re saying

“The community are hurting, the community is crying for help.”

— Maria Wallace, Member, Escondido Democratic Party (nbcsandiego.com)

“This new breed of ICE agents -- I hate to call them agents -- are not vetted, they're not trained. It diminishes their credibility and their training as police officers. We're not anti-police, we want policing here in the city of Escondido. But we want trained, professional people.”

— Georgina Tomasi, President, Escondido Democratic Party (nbcsandiego.com)

“How can you be for the people or saying that you're so concerned about your Latino community when you're voting against, to keep the contract?”

— Maria Wallace, Member, Escondido Democratic Party (nbcsandiego.com)

“I stayed away from providing a second so this would go to a vote simply because I believe that if we did this, we are going to make Escondido a mini-Minneapolis and I do not want that.”

— Councilmember Joe Garcia (nbcsandiego.com)

“The reality is is that if you agree or disagree with what's happening, the fear is real.”

— Councilmember Joe Garcia (nbcsandiego.com)

What’s next

The Escondido City Council contract with DHS/ICE is set to expire in January 2027, and will be up for renewal in October 2026. Community members are expected to continue pressing the city to dissolve the agreement before the renewal deadline.

The takeaway

The ongoing protests in Escondido highlight the divisive nature of the city's relationship with federal immigration enforcement agencies. While some community members see the contract as a threat to public safety and trust in local police, city officials argue that dissolving the agreement could disrupt important law enforcement training and make Escondido a "mini-Minneapolis."