California Lawmakers Tour Private ICE Detention Facility

Representatives Jacobs and Levin inspect conditions and assess quality of care at Otay Mesa Detention Center.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:04am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A serene, cinematic painting of a solitary barbed wire fence or detention center gate, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation about the realities of immigration detention.The visit by California lawmakers sheds light on the basic living conditions and quality of care at a controversial private immigration detention facility.San Diego Today

Democratic U.S. Representatives Sara Jacobs and Mike Levin toured the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, a private Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, to inspect the conditions and assess the quality of care provided to detainees. The lawmakers said they were not allowed to speak with detainees until the end of the tour, but they pledged to return for an unannounced future visit.

Why it matters

The visit by the California representatives highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of immigrants in private detention facilities. While the lawmakers praised some aspects, like the medical facilities, they also expressed disappointment with the basic living conditions and food quality, underscoring the need for continued oversight and transparency around these controversial detention centers.

The details

Jacobs and Levin, who represent San Diego in Congress, stated they wanted to check on complaints brought by detainees about the quality of food and medical care at the facility. They were able to tour the facility and sample the cafeteria food, which Levin described as "pork and beans and a hotdog" and "nothing that, let's just say is going to win any restaurant awards in San Diego." The lawmakers praised the medical facilities as being "clean" and "on par with anything you would find in the civilian community," and they also praised the staff for doing a difficult job under difficult conditions.

  • The tour began around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 3, 2026 and lasted for almost three hours.
  • Earlier this year, federal courts ruled that members of Congress have the right to conduct unannounced, in-person inspection tours of ICE facilities.

The players

Sara Jacobs

Democratic U.S. Representative for California's 51st congressional district.

Mike Levin

Democratic U.S. Representative for California's 49th congressional district.

Otay Mesa Detention Center

A private immigration detention facility operated by ICE in San Diego, California.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Even though they know we know they clean up when we show up, just the fact that we show up, they know we're watching, that's why being here and asking questions is important.”

— Sara Jacobs, U.S. Representative

“I sampled the cafeteria food again, it was pork and beans and a hotdog, but we saw the food, and it's nothing that, let's just say is going to win any restaurant awards in San Diego.”

— Mike Levin, U.S. Representative

What’s next

Jacobs and Levin pledged to return to the Otay Mesa Detention Center for an unannounced future visit to continue monitoring the conditions and care provided to detainees.

The takeaway

This visit by the California representatives highlights the ongoing need for transparency and oversight of private immigration detention facilities, where concerns persist about the quality of living conditions, food, and medical care provided to detainees, many of whom have no criminal record.