San Diego County Sues DHS Over Blocked Inspection of Otay Mesa Detention Facility

County officials say detainees have reported freezing temperatures, untreated medical conditions, and inadequate food at the facility.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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San Diego County has filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and private prison company CoreCivic after federal officials blocked a public health inspection of the Otay Mesa Immigrant Detention Center. County leaders say detainees have reported concerning conditions, including freezing temperatures, untreated medical issues, and food unfit for consumption, prompting requests for elected officials and public health personnel to inspect the facility.

Why it matters

The lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions between local authorities and federal immigration agencies over access to and oversight of detention facilities. San Diego County argues it has a legal and moral responsibility to protect the health of all residents, including those detained at the Otay Mesa facility, which is operated by a private prison company under federal contract.

The details

San Diego County filed the lawsuit after federal officials last month blocked a request by the county's public health officer to conduct a full inspection of the Otay Mesa Detention Center. The county is seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction requiring a comprehensive inspection while the case proceeds. Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was named in preliminary documents but will be replaced by Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin.

  • On February 2023, county leaders including Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer and Board Chair Pro Tem Paloma Aguirre were denied entry to the Otay Mesa facility despite initial clearance from the local ICE office.
  • On March 10, 2026, San Diego County filed the federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and CoreCivic.

The players

San Diego County

The local government authority that filed the federal lawsuit against federal agencies and the private prison company operating the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency named in the lawsuit for blocking access to the Otay Mesa facility.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

The federal immigration agency named in the lawsuit for blocking access to the Otay Mesa facility.

CoreCivic

The private prison company that operates the Otay Mesa Detention Center under federal contract.

Milena Araya-Davis

A detainee at the Otay Mesa facility who described concerning conditions including freezing temperatures, inadequate food, and denial of medication.

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What they’re saying

“It was really scary, to say the least. Very overwhelming, shocking — just a mix of emotions. Very sad.”

— Milena Araya-Davis, Detainee at Otay Mesa Detention Center (NBC)

“It's freezing in there — I would say like 50 degrees — you're constantly cold. They keep the lights on all day, so it's really, at least for me, it was really hard to sleep, because I'm not used to sleeping with those big, bright, like, white lights on.”

— Milena Araya-Davis, Detainee at Otay Mesa Detention Center (NBC)

“There was one day where I got served three slices of cake and two portions of rice — like regular sponge cake like you would pick up at Albertsons or something. I ate it all because that's the only thing that we had to eat, but it's not nutritious.... They say that it's supposed to meet the 2,000-calories-a-day requirement, but, personally, I don't think it does.”

— Milena Araya-Davis, Detainee at Otay Mesa Detention Center (NBC)

“I was taking medication for a pinched nerve in my back, which I was denied the first three days that I was there. So I was in a lot of pain because it was something that I would take twice a day, and I wasn't able to take it for those first three days.”

— Milena Araya-Davis, Detainee at Otay Mesa Detention Center (NBC)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to grant the county's request for a preliminary and permanent injunction requiring a full inspection of the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

The takeaway

This lawsuit underscores the ongoing tensions between local authorities and federal immigration agencies over access to and oversight of detention facilities. It raises broader questions about transparency, accountability, and the treatment of detainees in the immigration system.