San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced she will deny Immigration and Customs Enforcement access to county training facilities while continuing to allow Customs and Border Protection agents to use the same ranges, drawing a sharp distinction between the two federal agencies as local officials move to sever agreements with both.

Split Decision on Federal Access

Martinez’s decision comes as the San Diego County Board of Supervisors directed the county’s chief administrative officer to terminate lease agreements with both ICE and CBP. The sheriff defended her choice to maintain CBP access to the Otay Range, citing economic concerns and border operations. She spent two weeks consulting community stakeholders before reaching her conclusion, balancing what she described as community trust against public safety needs.

The sheriff emphasized that community relationships form the foundation of effective policing. Martinez stated her authority to enforce the law depends on the trust and confidence of the communities she serves, and she makes decisions based on both community trust and public safety considerations.

Border Impact and Training Requirements

More than 225,000 people enter the United States through San Diego ports of entry daily, including over 90,000 vehicles, 50,000 pedestrians, and 5,500 commercial trucks, according to sheriff’s office figures. Border wait times typically range between one and three hours. Martinez warned that removing CBP access to nearby training facilities could pull officers away from ports of entry for extended periods, reducing available personnel to staff inspection lanes.

CBP officers must complete classroom instruction and gun range qualifications as part of mandatory training. The sheriff’s office noted that CBP lacks another comparable training option in the area, and available ranges at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar operate at limited capacity. Some CBP officers from Imperial County also use the Otay Range for training.

Economic and Environmental Concerns

Martinez argued that longer border waits would harm commerce and increase pollution from idling vehicles. She stated that too many people on both sides of the border would suffer from a decision to end CBP’s facility use. As sheriff, Martinez said she has a duty to protect and serve everyone who lives in or enters San Diego County. The sheriff’s office confirmed it is exploring future training options for both agencies.