San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez will block U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from using county-owned firing ranges and training facilities.
The decision creates a divide between two federal agencies that previously shared access to local resources, highlighting tensions between county governance and federal immigration enforcement.
On Tuesday, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 [1] to terminate three license agreements that allowed both ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to train at county gun ranges. The move followed a push by some supervisors to distance the county from federal immigration activities.
Despite the board's vote, Martinez said she will continue to permit CBP agents to access the Otay Range. The sheriff said this distinction is necessary to maintain operational efficiency at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Martinez said that cutting CBP's access to the Otay Range could cause longer wait times for vehicles and people crossing the border. By maintaining the agreement for CBP while blocking ICE, the sheriff is attempting to balance the board's directive with the logistical needs of border security.
ICE agents will no longer have access to any of the county-owned training facilities. This includes the Otay firing range, which serves as a primary site for tactical training, and firearms qualification in the region.
The board's 3-2 [1] vote reflects a split within the local government regarding the use of public land for federal enforcement training. While the majority sought to end the partnerships, the sheriff's partial implementation ensures that border patrol operations are not directly hindered by the loss of training grounds.
“Sheriff Kelly Martinez will block U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from using county-owned firing ranges.”
This move illustrates the friction between local California officials and federal immigration authorities. By selectively applying the Board of Supervisors' vote, Sheriff Martinez is prioritizing the immediate logistical flow of the international border over a total severance of ties with federal agencies, effectively treating CBP and ICE as distinct operational entities despite both falling under the Department of Homeland Security.
