San Diego County halts federal immigration agents’ training at local shooting ranges.
San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors has voted to terminate contracts that permitted federal immigration authorities to use local and Navy-owned firing ranges for training purposes. This decision, made during a recent meeting, reflects growing community concerns over the actions of the federal government under the Trump administration, particularly regarding its stringent immigration enforcement practices.
In a close 3-2 vote, the supervisors expressed that the federal agencies in question, namely Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), have been involved in actions that have negatively impacted both local and national communities. One of the supervisors, Monica Montgomery Steppe, remarked that the board does not wish to be complicit in the harm caused by federal immigration agents, emphasizing the need for the region to uphold its values concerning community trust.
Kelly Martinez, the elected sheriff of San Diego County, announced the revocation of access for ICE to county facilities, noting that the decision came after extensive discussions and public feedback about ICE’s conduct during various armed incidents across the United States. However, she maintained that CBP would still be authorized to utilize county training facilities, setting up a potential conflict with the supervisors and raising questions about collaborative law enforcement among different agencies.
The decision followed significant public advocacy from residents who sought to abolish such contracts as a measure against the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation policies, which have resulted in family separations and heightened tensions between federal agents and local communities across the nation.
Other municipalities, such as Escondido, along with cities in New York and Minnesota, have also grappled with similar decisions regarding their agreements with immigration agents but have opted to continue those contracts. Supervisor Jim Desmond, who opposed the termination of the contracts, argued that cooperation and training among law enforcement agencies are vital, suggesting that increased training could remedy perceived overreach by ICE.
Rodney Scott, the head of CBP, criticized the board’s decision, stating that the agency depends significantly on San Diego’s firing range to train over 1,700 officers. He warned that shifting training locations could lead to staffing shortages and negatively impact border security and operations.
For several years, San Diego County facilities had been utilized by ICE and CBP, with records indicating over 3,300 training hours logged by federal agents since 2024. Advocates for the immigrant community have been vocal about the need to maintain a clear distinction between local law enforcement and federal immigration efforts. They argue that the blending of these roles could erode trust within immigrant populations.
As San Diego County moves away from federal collaboration in this context, local officials aim to uphold a sense of safety and community cohesion, reasserting that their focus remains on ensuring that all residents feel secure in their homes.
