The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 this week to terminate agreements allowing agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to use county facilities for firearms training.

The measure includes the San Diego Regional Firearms Training Center, located on Alta Road in Otay Mesa, a facility used by various law enforcement agencies for firearms training and certification.

The Board of Supervisors today voted to restrict access to county law enforcement training facilities. Supervisor Jim Desmond voted no and released the following statement:

"Our Sheriff's training centers serve law enforcement agencies from across the region, local and federal…

— Supervisor Jim Desmond (@jim_desmond) August 18, 2026

The agreements with ICE and CBP had allowed the agencies to use the facilities for several years. According to information presented to the Board, the two agencies logged approximately 3,350 hours of training at the Otay Mesa center since 2024.

The decision was pushed by Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre, who argued that county-owned facilities should not be used to support current federal immigration enforcement operations.

The supervisors also said the agreements with the federal agencies were approved administratively and were not initially brought before the Board of Supervisors for a public vote.

Dispute Between the Board and the Sheriff

Although the Board voted to terminate the agreements, the future of CBP training at the Otay Mesa center remains controversial.

County Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced that ICE would no longer have access to Sheriff’s facilities for training, but said she would allow CBP agents to continue using the shooting range, citing concerns related to border operations and the economic impact.

The Board’s decision states that the agreements with the federal agencies will end after the federal government receives the required notification, in accordance with the terms established in the contracts.

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The issue has sparked debate in San Diego between those who believe the county should not provide infrastructure to support federal immigration operations and those who argue that maintaining CBP training is important for border security and interagency coordination.

The San Diego Regional Firearms Training Center is located in Otay Mesa, near the U.S.-Mexico border, and is used to train personnel from various law enforcement agencies. The dispute could continue as the county and the Sheriff’s Office determine how to implement the Board’s decision and what impact it will have on federal agents’ training at the facilities.