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County officials denied access to Otay Mesa Detention Center for health inspection
San Diego County supervisors were denied full inspection access at Otay Mesa Detention Center despite federal clearance; county plans legal action citing state inspection rights.
- Local officials say the supervisors were turned away attempting an inspection at Otay Mesa on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, despite prior approval from local ICE.
- Concerns from detainee notes and past denied visits prompted the request, with county officials seeking the first full inspection under a 2024 California law after detainees at OMDC tossed notes earlier this month.
- Inspectors saw only the kitchen and medical bay and were blocked from medical records, policies, and general population areas, while CoreCivic emails showed local ICE clearance but national ICE denied access on Friday.
- County officials are consulting lawyers as this denial compounds recent oversight clashes, with Lawson-Remer and Aguirre pursuing litigation to force future inspections amid disputes over ICE seven-day notice policy.
- OMDC notes its ACA accreditation and recent audits with a 100% score while average daily detention data show around 1,400 detainees and Deportation Data Project records note capacity spikes from July 23 to Oct. 15.
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12 Articles
Cal Matters
California lawmakers blocked from entering Otay Mesa Detention Center despite prior clearance
Federal immigration officials blocked two San Diego County Supervisors and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla from inspecting the detention center.
Health inspectors granted limited access to immigration detention center, but lawmakers turned away
Two county health officials set to perform a planned inspection of the Otay Mesa Detention Center were granted only limited access Friday, and two county supervisors who said they had prior written approval to also tour the facility were subsequently turned away. An hour later Friday, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, who also wished to conduct an oversight visit, was also denied access to the San Diego immigration detention center. “I am very deeply conc…
ICE detention center denies San Diego County supervisors access
San Diego County supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre were turned away outside the Otay Mesa Detention Center on Friday. This content ‘What are they hiding?’ San Diego County supervisors denied access to ICE detention center appeared first on inewsource.
County officials denied access to Otay Mesa Detention Center for health inspection
OTAY MESA, Calif. (KGTV) San Diego County supervisors were turned away Friday when they attempted to conduct a health inspection at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, despite having what they say was prior approval from federal immigration officials.Supervisors Tara Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre arrived at the facility on Friday afternoon but were denied entry. The county's public health officer was allowed inside but could only access limited ar…
ICE agents deny US Senator, San Diego County supervisors access to Otay Mesa immigrant detention center
The Trump administration Friday prevented a U.S. Senator and two San Diego County supervisors from conducting inspections of the Otay Mesa Detention Center.Initially, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents agreed to allow supervisors Paloma Aguirre and Terra Lawson Remer to inspect the federal immigration detention center.It would have been the first such inspection allowed in California. However, when county officials arrived for…
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