California Lawmakers Tour Private ICE Facility

Reps. Sara Jacobs and Mike Levin inspect conditions at Otay Mesa Detention Center

Apr. 4, 2026 at 4:35am

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A photorealistic painting of the exterior of a large, nondescript government building in warm, golden light, with deep shadows stretching across the facade, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation about the facility's purpose.The somber, institutional facade of the Otay Mesa Detention Center casts a long shadow, reflecting the complex debates over immigration detention policies.San Diego Today

Democratic U.S. Reps. Sara Jacobs and Mike Levin toured the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego on Thursday, inspecting the facility and assessing the quality of care and conditions at the site. The lawmakers were able to access the center, which houses mostly immigrants with no criminal record, after earlier court rulings affirmed Congress' right to conduct unannounced inspections of ICE facilities.

Why it matters

The visit by Jacobs and Levin sheds light on the conditions at private immigration detention centers, which have faced allegations of poor food and medical care. Their tour comes amid ongoing debates over immigration policy and the treatment of detainees in the U.S. immigration system.

The details

Jacobs and Levin said they were not allowed to speak with detainees until the very end of their nearly 3-hour tour. They did sample the cafeteria food, which Levin described as "pork and beans and a hotdog" and "nothing that's going to win any restaurant awards." Levin praised the medical facilities as being "clean" and "on par with anything you would find in the civilian community." Both representatives pledged to return for an unannounced future visit.

  • The tour began around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2026.
  • Earlier this year, federal courts ruled that members of Congress have the right to conduct unannounced, in-person inspection tours of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities.

The players

Sara Jacobs

Democratic U.S. Representative for California's 53rd congressional district.

Mike Levin

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

Otay Mesa Detention Center

A private immigration detention facility located in San Diego, California.

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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

“The medical facilities were clean and 'on par with anything you would find in the civilian community.'”

— 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 further inspect the facility and conditions.

The takeaway

This tour by Jacobs and Levin highlights the ongoing debates over the treatment of immigrants in detention centers and the importance of congressional oversight to ensure humane conditions, even at private facilities like Otay Mesa.