ICE Says San Diego County Blocked Agents from Routine Training Facilities
Aug 20, 2026·Location: San Diego, CA

San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez barred ICE from using sheriff's department facilities for firearms training and qualifications, citing community concerns about the agency's conduct during armed confrontations. Acting ICE Director David J. Venturella criticized the decision as putting politics ahead of public safety and said ICE would not allow local obstruction to prevent officer training. The ban does not extend to Customs and Border Protection, which Martinez said will retain access to the county's Otay Range to avoid longer border wait times and economic harm.
Sources
- Southern California hits ICE with 'dumbfounding' roadblock as top lawmaker rips 'reckless' hypocrisy
Fox News·Aug 21, 2026·archived copy
- Acting ICE Director David J. Venturella issues statement on San Diego County’s attempted obstruction of federal law enforcement training
ice.gov·Aug 20, 2026·archived copy
- lawenforcementtoday.com
- San Diego Sheriff Blocks ICE From Training At County Facilities After Controversial Board Vote
- ICE banned from using San Diego County firearm training facilities
nbcsandiego.com·Aug 18, 2026
More incidents in California
- Irvine special education teacher detained at LAX, transferred to Adelanto ICE facilityOct 6, 2026 · Los Angeles, CA
- Former DACA recipient dies of sepsis after Adelanto ICE staff ignored infection, family suesOct 3, 2026 · Adelanto, CA
- Senator tours SFO airport holding room, cites prolonged ICE detentionsOct 1, 2026 · San Francisco, CA
- Mexican man captured by drone-tracking agents in Buena Park fraud sweepOct 1, 2026 · Buena Park, CA
- Irish man detained at airport deported to UK before bond hearingSep 30, 2026 · San Jose, CA
- Ghanaian respiratory therapist chained and detained at SFO gate over visa overstaySep 30, 2026 · San Francisco, CA