San Diego Officials Denied Access to Inspect Otay Mesa Detention Center

Immigration officials blocked county supervisors and a U.S. senator from visiting the facility due to health concerns.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers turned away three San Diego officials from the Otay Mesa Detention Center on Friday when they tried to inspect the facility due to health concerns. County supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre, as well as U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, were denied entry despite having scheduled the visits in advance.

Why it matters

The denial of access to the detention center raises concerns about transparency and oversight of the facility, which has faced previous allegations of poor medical care and other issues. As a county-owned facility, Otay Mesa Detention Center is subject to local health inspections, but officials were prevented from conducting a full review.

The details

Around noon on Friday, officials at the Otay Mesa Detention Center denied entry to the county supervisors. A few hours later, they also blocked Senator Padilla from inspecting the facility, which is owned and operated by private prison company CoreCivic. The Department of Homeland Security said the supervisors had contacted CoreCivic instead of ICE to set up the visit, and the agency denied their entry. County Public Health Officer Sayone Thihalolipavan was allowed limited access, but was not permitted to speak with detainees or review their medical records.

  • On Friday, February 24, 2026, county supervisors and a U.S. senator were denied entry to the Otay Mesa Detention Center.
  • Earlier that day, around noon, officials at the facility denied entry to the county supervisors.
  • A few hours later, officials also blocked Senator Alex Padilla from inspecting the detention center.

The players

Otay Mesa Detention Center

An immigration detention facility in San Diego, California that is owned and operated by private prison company CoreCivic.

Terra Lawson-Remer

A San Diego County supervisor who was denied entry to the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

Paloma Aguirre

A San Diego County supervisor who was denied entry to the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

Alex Padilla

A U.S. Senator from California who was denied entry to the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

Sayone Thihalolipavan

The San Diego County Public Health Officer who was granted limited access to the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

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What they’re saying

“The first big question I come away with is what do they have to hide? What do they have to hide? What does this administration have to hide?”

— Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator (voiceofsandiego.org)

“So, we were not able to conduct the inspection that we are legally obligated to conduct to protect health and safety. And it is obviously incredibly concerning.”

— Terra Lawson-Remer, San Diego County Supervisor (voiceofsandiego.org)

What’s next

The San Diego County is exploring litigation options to gain access to the Otay Mesa Detention Center for a full health and safety inspection.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in providing oversight and transparency at immigration detention facilities, even for local officials tasked with ensuring the health and safety of detainees. It raises concerns about what conditions may be like inside the Otay Mesa Detention Center and the need for greater accountability measures.