San Diego County Supervisors Denied Access to ICE Detention Center

Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre were turned away from inspecting the Otay Mesa Detention Center despite prior approval from ICE.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 11:19pm

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Two San Diego County supervisors, Terra Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre, were denied access to the Otay Mesa Detention Center on Friday despite receiving approval from local ICE officials more than a week prior. The supervisors were attempting to conduct the first full inspection of the facility under a 2024 California law that allows counties to inspect private detention centers. A county health inspector was only allowed to see the kitchen and medical areas, but not medical records or policies, and no one from the county was permitted to speak with any of the 1,400 detainees held at the facility.

Why it matters

The denial of access to the county supervisors raises concerns about the conditions inside the Otay Mesa Detention Center, which is the only ICE detention facility in San Diego County and is owned and operated by private prison company CoreCivic under contract with the federal government. Democratic lawmakers across the country have been increasingly denied access to ICE facilities, even as detainees and advocates report issues like overcrowding, spoiled food, and inadequate medical care.

The details

The supervisors' attempted inspection was part of their response to the Trump administration's aggressive deportation campaign in San Diego County. Earlier this year, the county board passed an ordinance requiring federal immigration agents to present a judicial warrant before accessing county property. The supervisors say they had received approval more than a week ago from local ICE officials to inspect the facility, but that approval was deemed insufficient on the day of the visit.

  • On February 9, 2026, the San Diego County supervisors sent a letter to the facility warden stating their desire to visit the Otay Mesa Detention Center.
  • On February 6, 2026, U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas was turned away from attempting to visit the detention center, with the facility citing a policy requiring seven days' notice.

The players

Terra Lawson-Remer

The chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

Paloma Aguirre

A San Diego County supervisor whose district includes the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

Otay Mesa Detention Center

The only ICE detention facility in San Diego County, owned and operated by private prison company CoreCivic under contract with the federal government.

Christopher LaRose

The warden of the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that oversees immigration detention facilities.

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What they’re saying

“We were granted that clearance by ICE. We all should be very, very worried about the conditions inside these facilities when they will not allow us access even with significant notice.”

— Terra Lawson-Remer, Chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Instagram)

“What are they hiding?”

— Paloma Aguirre, San Diego County Supervisor (inewsource.org)

What’s next

The San Diego County supervisors say they are talking to county lawyers about suing for access to the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between local officials and the federal government over access to immigration detention facilities, as well as concerns about transparency and oversight of these facilities amid reports of poor conditions and inadequate care for detainees.